Positions aren’t the only thing Brian Burns is changing this season.
As announced by team reporter Darin Gantt on Wednesday evening, the Carolina Panthers defensive end-turned-outside linebacker has officially changed his uniform number. The former No. 53 will now don No. 0, which was placed back into circulation for the first time in 50 years by league owners in March.
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— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 7, 2023
Burns, obviously, is now the first Panther to ever wear No. 0. And it shouldn’t come as too much of a shocker, as the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher hinted at the switch in an Instagram story a few months ago.
Gantt provided the following quotes from Burns regarding the decision:
“I kind of was on the zero thing before everyone jumped on it,” Burns said. “Now it’s a common thing in the league. It feels good to know I’ll be the first Panther with it, though.”
“I figured since they’re changing my position technically, because of the defense we’re in now, it gives me the opportunity to do something new,” he said. I feel like it’s a lot of new around here. So I feel like, why not do it? It’s a new beginning.
“We’ve got a lot of new. A lot of new things going in our favor now; I really feel good about this year, and this team and what we’re doing.”
Oh, and this probably won’t be the last number we talk about when it comes to Burns this offseason . . .
