Veteran NFL safety Tashaun Gipson is already looking for a new jersey number.
Gipson was given No. 47—the only number available for his position group—when he arrived at training camp in Jacksonville on Monday. The number felt uncomfortable for the 13-year pro who previously wore No. 39 with the Jaguars from 2016 to 2018.
Rookie kicker Cam Little currently wears No. 39, but Gipson is hopeful that Little might choose a different number when the roster is cut down to 53 players.
“I’m not used to this and don’t want anyone else to get used to it,” Gipson joked on Tuesday. “I would like to get 39 back, but if he has a connection to it, I might need to find another number. But 39 always has a special place in my heart.”
Gipson’s decision to return to Jacksonville was influenced by his fondness for the city and the organization, despite being suspended for the first six games of the regular season due to violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Gipson, who admitted to taking a supplement with a banned substance.
“I appreciate that they respected me as a person and a player enough to bring me back and give me a chance. I have nothing but love for the city and the organization.”
Gipson has started 165 games over 12 seasons with teams like Cleveland, Jacksonville, Houston, Chicago, and San Francisco. He has 33 interceptions, one in every season since he joined the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2012.
He started 33 games for the 49ers over the past two years and advanced to two NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.
The Jaguars signed him to a one-year deal as a midseason backup, making him available starting Week 7 against New England in London.
Jacksonville will be without backup Andrew Wingard for at least the first month of the season, and safety Darnell Savage is still recovering from shoulder surgery. This means Gipson could see action in the preseason and might be a key player later in the season.
