The Athletics kicked off their road trip with a playful nod to football season, as players posted pictures wearing various NFL jerseys. Among the slides in the social media thread, Nick Kurtz was shown wearing a Josh Allen jersey and Colby Thomas a Jalen Hurts jersey. Brent Rooker wore a Dak Prescott jersey, and Jeffrey Springs donned a Christian McCaffrey jersey. Rounding out the set, Sean Newcomb, a Massachusetts native, appeared in a New England Patriots jersey bearing No. 81.
That No. 81 drew particular attention because it’s a number associated with two Patriots stars: Randy Moss and Aaron Hernandez. To clear up the confusion, the team released a close-up look at the jersey patch, confirming it was a Mitchell & Ness throwback honoring Moss’ standout 2007 season.
For context, Moss and Hernandez were teammates with the Patriots in 2010. Moss wore No. 81 that season while Hernandez wore No. 85. Moss was traded to the Titans during 2010, and before the 2011 season, Hernandez switched to No. 81, contributing to the jersey-number history that fans often recall.
Additional context and insights:
– The throwback patch serves to honor Moss’s celebrated 2007 season and helps fans recognize the homage behind the No. 81 choice.
– The playful mix of players wearing jerseys from different NFL stars highlights a lighthearted cross-sport camaraderie during a road trip.
– This behind-the-scenes moment underscores the Athletics’ effort to engage fans with social posts that mix sport history with current team preparations.
– The careful verification of the patch shows attention to accuracy and fan curiosity about jersey numbers and their histories.
Overall, the moment reflects a playful, fan-friendly approach as the Athletics enter football season, while also offering a neat reminder of NFL history tied to a familiar Patriots era. A hopeful takeaway is that these kinds of posts build team cohesion and fan interest without compromising factual detail.