Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Davante Adams Keeps No. 17 Jersey as Rams Teammate Makes Unplanned Switch

Davante Adams Nearly Switched to No. 7 Before an Nacua's Unexpected Move

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In March, Davante Adams signed a two-year, $44 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. The six-time Pro Bowler had already braced for a fresh start, including giving up his signature No. 17 jersey. With Puka Nacua already wearing the number, Adams had mentally committed to switching to No. 7, a tribute to his childhood hero, Michael Vick. But as it turns out, he didn’t need to. Let’s find out about the unexpected gesture.

Rams star WR Davante Adams says he was preparing to wear No. 7 before Puka Nacua gave up No. 17:

“I was gonna put 7 on because I was a big Mike Vick fan when I was growing up. In the one year I did play Pop Warner, I wore No. 7.”

(via ESPN LA) pic.twitter.com/2B6Fc5ekSt
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) August 3, 2025

The Number 7 Era That Never Happened

“Honestly, I wasn’t even concerned with getting the number,” Adams said during training camp in a sit-down with ESPN’s Scott Kaplan and Beto Duran. “It wasn’t a thought of mine that [Nacua] was going to be gracious enough or me be bully enough to try to do that. And I definitely wasn’t about to be dishing out, you know, 100 grand for a number. It wasn’t that serious.”

Instead, Adams was preparing to embrace No. 7, calling back to his Pop Warner days and his admiration for Vick. “I was gonna put seven because I was a big Mike Vick fan when I was growing up and the one year I did play Pop Warner, I was No. 7.”

Lots of TDs and @tacobell in the @RamsNFL wide receiver room 🌮😅

A behind-the-scenes look at how Davante Adams got the #17 jersey from Puka Nacua pic.twitter.com/HZS8RylUMj
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) August 1, 2025

But before the jersey switch could be made official, fate intervened. It was revealed that the young receiver was already planning a return to his college number, 12. No deal was struck. No money exchanged. Just timing.

Adams later clarified, “Before I even knew for sure if I was headed to LA, he was already talking about wearing 12. For everybody out there that want to hate me for making them buy a new jersey, I did not tell him or pay him or do anything.”

Though Nacua had joked on the “St. Brown Podcast” that even $2 million wouldn’t be enough to sell No. 17, he gave it up willingly. “I know when I put on that number 12, it’s a piece of armor that’s representing my family,” Nacua said in the Rams’ announcement video.

Some numbers choose you.

1️⃣2️⃣ @AsapPuka pic.twitter.com/sguuBgOkNj
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 11, 2025

And so, Adams keeps his signature number without the drama, while Rams fans get the highly anticipated receiver duo. With both Adams and Nacua in the mix, the offense should be far more dynamic and explosive, especially after last season’s setbacks.

Mandatory Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Davante Adams

Jersey No. 17

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Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.