In the midst of celebrating the biggest night of his career, Steelers first-round pick Broderick Jones took a moment to share how he plans to honor late Georgia teammate Devin Willock as he enters his first NFL season.
Jones, the 14th pick in the 2023 NFL draft, announced Friday he will pay homage to Willock, who was killed in a car accident on Jan. 15, by switching from No. 59 to No. 77—Willock’s number at Georgia. Jones’s touching tribute comes as the rookie offensive lineman had been searching for a new number because Pittsburgh no longer issues a No. 59 jersey after retiring the number in honor of linebacker Jack Ham.
“It’s in honor of my teammate that passed,” Jones said, per team reporter Teresa Varley. “He wore No. 77. No. 59 is not available. No. 77 was another option. I felt like I would do that for him, his family and me.”
As one of three Georgia players drafted in the first round Thursday night, Jones will embark on a new journey following an emotional final season at Georgia. The tragic deaths of Willock and team staffer Chandler LeCroy occurred just six days after the Bulldogs won their second straight national championship on Jan. 9.
Less than a month later, Georgia received more devastating news after defensive tackle Jalen Carter was arrested and charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and racing in connection to the Jan. 15 crash. Carter, who avoided jail time after entering a plea deal, was drafted with the No. 9 pick by the Eagles on Thursday.
Members of the UGA football program from 2020 to ’22, Willock and Jones appeared in all 15 regular season games last season and both of the team’s college football playoff wins over Ohio State and TCU. Both offensive linemen were also part of Georgia’s historic 2021 national title team that finished the season 14–1.
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