Cowboys Star CeeDee Lamb Didn’t Initially Want to Wear the Illustrious No. 88 Jersey: ‘Wanted to Start My Own Legacy’
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys landed a gem in CeeDee Lamb. After three seasons, the wide receiver — a position that the franchise has long prioritized — has established himself as one of the NFL’s brightest stars.
The 24-year-old revealed his thoughts on wearing the jersey number reserved for the best of the best in Cowboys’ history.
The history of the No. 88 Cowboys jersey
CeeDee Lamb’s No. 88 is among the most iconic numbers in Dallas Cowboys franchise history. The Cowboys don’t let just anyone wear the No. 88 jersey. Sure, it’s just a number, but some of the wideouts who donned that jersey enjoyed tremendous success in Dallas.
The first wide receiver to make a difference in that jersey number was Ron Sellers. He was the first member of the 88 Club to lead the team in receiving yards and touchdowns in a single season. Sellers played just one season in Dallas, though.
Three players have become synonymous with No. 88. You can’t mention the jersey without discussing Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, and Dez Bryant.
Pearson spent his entire 11-year career with the Cowboys. He caught 489 passes for 7,822 yards and 48 touchdowns in 156 games.
Irvin took things up a notch after Dallas drafted him in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He amassed 750 receptions, 11,904 receiving yards, and 65 touchdowns in 12 seasons.
Bryant had the shortest tenure in Dallas of the three receivers but still enjoyed a productive career. He recorded 531 receptions for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns in eight seasons with the Cowboys.
Between them, they have 11 Pro Bowl selections, four Super Bowls, and two Hall of Fame inductions. Now, CeeDee Lamb is picking up where they left off.
CeeDee Lamb didn’t want to wear No. 88 initially
When the Cowboys selected CeeDee Lamb with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they knew he would be special.
Lamb was a consensus All-American as a junior at the University of Oklahoma. He was part of a loaded wide receiver class featuring Justin Jefferson, Jerry Jeudy, and Tee Higgins.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys turned heads when they allowed the Oklahoma product to wear the No. 88 jersey. In a 2021 interview for the Dallas Cowboys YouTube page, Lamb revealed he wasn’t keen on the idea at first.
“It wasn’t my first option,” said Lamb. “All the guys and all the things they did in that number, I kind of wanted to start my own legacy.”
Lamb’s first choice was the No. 10 jersey. After the draft, Michael Irvin contacted the young receiver and asked him which number he wanted. “I saw 88,” said Lamb. “But I was like, you know what, these guys had their time in this jersey number. So I try 10.”
The wideout explained that Irvin decided to give him No. 88 anyway. He couldn’t tell the Cowboys legend no.
Irvin was excited Lamb agreed to switch numbers. “In order to get this number, you must be what we call a ‘true bred’ – that means born, bleed, and bred right here with the Dallas Cowboys,” he said per the Cowboys team website. “Drew Pearson was that. Michael Irvin was that. Dez Bryant was that, and now CeeDee Lamb is that. And I love this kid.”
The Dallas Cowboys star is living up to the billing
The Opelousas, Louisiana, native put together a solid rookie campaign. He caught 74 passes for 935 yards and five touchdowns on 111 targets.
CeeDee Lamb took his game to another level in year two. After garnering preseason hype for an impressive training camp, he entered the 2021 season with high expectations.
No. 88 recorded 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns. Through the first seven games of the season, he led the Cowboys in targets, receptions, and receiving yards.
Lamb saw his stats rise again in his third season. The receiver notched 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns.
CeeDee Lamb has made Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office look good. He’s making the 88 Club proud, too.
Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
