Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Longtime NFL punter Lee Johnson shares origins of Tom Brady wearing No. 12

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/6/21

It isn't too often you hear something — anything really — about Tom Brady without a reference to his jersey number mentioned at least once.

That makes it all the more interesting the reigning Super Bowl MVP only started wearing jersey No. 12 because his first choice was already taken. The player who had Brady's first number choice gained celebrity status for it almost two decades later.

Former NFL punter Lee Johnson, who had an 18-year career and played in New England for a little over two seasons, discussed aspects of his NFL career in a recent episode of the Pick Six Podcast. That short tenure with the Pats included Brady's rookie season when the two reportedly had lockers next to each other. As Brady revealed in a 2018 press conference, he wanted to wear jersey No. 10 like he had in college, but the number was already taken by Johnson.

The tale of the 12.

Brady explains the origin of his jersey number. pic.twitter.com/RjvFD4Noyg
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 2, 2018

Johnson told Pick Six that Brady's name-drop gained him some notoriety.

"Once he (said that), it was as if I never played football," Johnson said. "I was a bigger celebrity from that than from any of my 18 years as a player."

Johnson, who turns 60 this year, also said he wouldn't have minded swapping jersey numbers with New England's then-backup QB.

"I don't recall him ever talking to me or reaching out to me," Johnson said. "Had he reached out to me, I would have given him that number in a heartbeat.

"I was there for so short of time with Tom that the number was never brought up," he continued. "I think he was just happy to be there."

Johnson was still with the Patriots when Brady first took the field in place of injured starter Drew Bledsoe and admits he didn't think the player who would later become TB12 had the right stuff.

"I knew we didn't have, at the time, a really solid, experienced backup," Johnson said. "I just remember watching Tom in practice and I'm thinking, 'This guy, OK, maybe at some point in his career (he'll be good).' Maybe Bill saw something in him as a player, because I was never in practice thinking this guy was ever going to be the heir apparent for the New England Patriots. Ever."

More must-reads: