Hollywood Brown should bring pride back to the Eagles' No. 0 jersey
The number zero means different things to different people. Some call it a reset, a new beginning to begin another count. Some equate it to nothingness. That's why some Philadelphia Eagles fans, both young and old, are confused about why someone would ever accept that as their jersey number. Those of you with grandparents who have passed away can attest to the fact that they are probably turning in their resting places if they were football purists. Pass rushers wear single digits at the professional level now. Linebackers wear numbers that we assign to running backs.
Then, there's the number zero. The NFL never made that number available until the beginning of the 2023 regular season. Four Eagles have since decided to wear it on their chests and backs. Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown is the latest, and there's hope that he will be the best. The first guy set a high bar. No one has worn the jersey longer than one season.
We'll see what happens with Brown. Fingers are crossed for fireworks. Here's a look at four Birds with four very different stories.
D'Andre Swift (2023)
D'Andre Swift was the first Eagle to wear the number zero for Philadelphia. So far, he has been the best. His one-and-done run with the organization resulted in the lone Pro Bowl nod on his resume.
He ran for 1,087 rushing yards and stacked 299 yards receiving on 34 receptions. He scored ten total touchdowns. Philadelphia moved on and eventually signed Saquon Barkley , but Swift parlayed his best NFL season into a payday. The following offseason, he signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Chicago Bears .
Bryce Huff (2024)
On March 13, 2024, Huff signed a three-year contract with the Eagles. He missed five weeks due to a torn ligament in his groin area and was activated from injured reserve three days after Christmas. He was inactive for the Super Bowl and eventually stated he won't wear his ring because he wasn't on the field to earn it.
On June 2, 2025, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth based on performance . Huff announced his retirement from professional football on March 12, 2026.
Josh Uche (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Uche agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Eagles . He was active in 12 games, starting none. He played 244 defensive snaps and another 114 on special teams.
That resulted in 23 tackles, one sack, and one pass breakup. 364 days after joining the Birds, he left to sign a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins .
Marquise Brown (2026)
This story is just beginning, and hopefully, it keeps evolving. Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown agreed to sign with the Eagles on March 17, 2026. As mentioned, he's the latest Eagle to take on the number, and with him comes something his predecessors never quite delivered: stability and star power. This isn't a one-year flier or a rotational piece trying to find footing. Brown arrives in Philadelphia with expectations, a defined role, and the kind of big-play ability that can change how a number is perceived.
If 'zero' has felt temporary in Philadelphia, that's because it has been. It has served more as a placeholder than as one man's identity. That's what makes this moment different. Brown has an opportunity to give the number more meaning than it has ever had. Brown can turn what once symbolized uncertainty and nothingness into something explosive and reliable. If he produces the way the Eagles believe he can, number zero won't feel like "nothing" anymore. It'll feel like a fresh start that finally stuck.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Hollywood Brown should bring pride back to the Eagles' No. 0 jersey
