New England Patriots' Christian Gonzalez Making Historic Number Change

Christian Gonzalez will return to his college roots, becoming the first New England Patriot to wear No. 0.

Oct 8, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Christian Gonzalez (0) against the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots drafted Christian Gonzalez with the hopes he'd make history. Gonzalez is doing just that, even with nary a down to his name since early October.

New England released new uniform numbers for the 2024 season on Tuesday, the list headlined by Gonzalez's new benchmark: the second-year defender will become the first Patriot to wear the No. 0. Players have been eligible to wear the digit since last season and Brian Burns, Calvin Ridley, Roquan Smith, and D'Andre Swift.

Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (6) / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Gonzalez, who wore No. 6 during his abbreviated rookie season, previously hinted at a number change on social media before the Patriots made it official on Tuesday. The former Oregon Duck previously wore the round digit in college, where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in his Eugene coda.

He impressed in his limited time before a simultaneous torn labrum and a dislocated shoulder in an October loss in Dallas. Gonzalez earned 17 tackles, three pass breakups, and an interception and sack each in that limited time, partly vindicating the Patriots' decision to make him the 17th pick of the 2023 draft. He is, ironically enough, the highest Patriots pick used on a defender since 2008, when New England took linebacker and future head coach Jerod Mayo with the 10th selection.

Donned in a new jersey, Gonzalez is now one of the most hopeful components of the Patriots' active rebuild.

"Gonzo, he is a guy who comes in, puts his hard hat on every day, and works hard," then-teammate Jalen Mills said of Gonzalez after the latter's NFL debut against Philadelphia last year, per Conor Ryan of Boston.com. "To see him out there and play well, that’s good for him.”