Eight years after delivering Philadelphia its first Super Bowl title, Nick Foles is still calling the shots—at least when it comes to who gets to wear his number. The Eagles have a new wide receiver in town, and he's got the blessing of the man who made No. 9 legendary in the City of Brotherly Love.
According to a report from The Athletic's Zach Berman, rookie wideout Makai Lemon will sport the No. 9 jersey when he takes the field in 2026. But before Lemon could claim the digits, he had to get the green light from the man who wore them during that magical Super Bowl LII run. And Foles, ever the class act, gave it willingly.
“Makai Lemon will wear No. 9. Nick Foles gave him the blessing. The two spoke. Lemon is the first one to wear it since Nick Foles,” Berman wrote on social media.
Of course, the idea that Foles needed to “bless” the number change struck many NFL fans as both hilarious and unnecessary. After all, the Eagles never officially retired No. 9—they simply let it sit idle out of respect. But the conversations around Foles' influence in Philadelphia have always been a bit… unique.
“Only in Philadelphia will you hear the phrase unironically, ‘Nick Foles gave him the blessing,’” one fan joked on social media.
Another added, “Hold up… you need Nick Foles’s blessing to wear his number? My Eagles hatred aside… That’s a really sad franchise.”
While the quips flew, the underlying sentiment is clear: Foles remains a revered figure in Philly sports lore. He started just 32 regular-season games over five seasons, posting a 21-11 record, but his crowning achievement—leading the Eagles past Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl LII—cemented his place in franchise history. The team even built a statue of his iconic “Philly Special” touchdown catch to honor the moment.
For Lemon, stepping into the No. 9 jersey carries weight, but he's not the only new face generating buzz. The Eagles have been busy reshaping their roster, and Lemon's arrival adds another layer of intrigue to an already fascinating offseason. The franchise recently saw a longtime executive step down, and there's been chatter about internal tensions surrounding quarterback Jalen Hurts. Meanwhile, the team's draft strategy has raised eyebrows, including a basketball player who's never worn a helmet.
Whether Foles' blessing was necessary or just a nice gesture, it's a reminder that in Philadelphia, legends don't fade—they just pass the torch.
