Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings reunited with outside linebacker Anthony Barr. But not everything is going to be as it was, namely Barr’s jersey number.
The Vikings announced that Barr will have a new jersey number from his previous stint with the club. In Barr’s initial time in Minnesota, he wore number 55. Now fans will have to adjust to seeing him in the number 54.
If it can't be #55, might as well be #54 💜@anthonybarr pic.twitter.com/8tTFG885dd
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 16, 2023
While fans may not be used to seeing Barr in the number 54, they should be familiar with seeing the number on the field. Before Barr, the jersey was worn by former Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks. Barr reached out to his former college and pro teammate Kendricks before taking the number, and with his blessing that is the number Vikings fans will be seeing Barr in on Sunday night against the Broncos.
Barr’s number change comes due to his old number already being taken by fellow linebacker Andre Carter. The rookie from Army has appeared in five games for the Vikings, recording just one tackle on the season. Carter also plays on special teams, seeing just over 40% of the special teams snaps this season.
During his first stint with the Vikings, Barr was arguably one of the best linebackers in the league, making four straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2018. Barr comes back to Minnesota after the injury to Jordan Hicks to give the team some much-needed depth at the position.
