Eagles Rookie Makai Lemon Chooses No. 9 After Getting Nick Foles' Blessing

Philadelphia Eagles first round pick Makai Lemon revealed his jersey number on Thursday, and it holds a special meaning for Eagles fans. Lemon will don the No. 9, last worn by Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who led the franchise to its first ever Super Bowl win in 2018. Foles retired from the league in 2024 and left Philadelphia in March 2019, yet no other player had worn his number since his departure. Foles gave the 2025 Biletnikoff Award his blessing for No. 9, Lemon explained. "I talked to him on the phone. He wanted to pass that number over, wanted to speak to me on the phone before anybody else told me so," Lemon said. "I appreciate him and hopefully I can meet him soon. He's around the building." The wide receiver added that he's aware that no one else has worn the number since and doesn't take it lightly. There also isn't significance behind Lemon's choice. He said he wanted the lowest number possible he could get, which ended up being No. 9, something the Eagles brought up. Lemon -- who wore No. 24 and 6 at USC -- isn't the first Eagles player to try and snag the No. 9. Former linebacker Josh Sweat wore it in high school and college, but when drafted in 2018 switched to No. 75 with Foles on the roster. He wore 94 from 2019 to 2023, and revealed in the 2024 offseason that he tried to don the No. 9 before choosing No. 19. "But I can't get 9 now because it's retired," Sweat said in 2024. Philadelphia hadn't officially retired the number, but it wasn't issued until this year. Lemon expressed his appreciation to the Eagles and Foles for passing the number down because Foles "could've easily kept that number to himself." "I definitely cherish that so much," he said. "I represent the nine well, wearing it. Representing the team well. So I'm just super excited to get that number for sure." Taken at No. 20 in the 2026 NFL draft, Lemon led the country last season with 1,156 receiving yards and 96.3 receiving yards per game for USC.