No one touches that number. No one speaks of it. When a new player arrives in Washington and is eligible for the number, and is asked what code they want to be known by, they skate around it, their eyes lingering around the edges of the paper, searching for more options. As if the choice itself is blacked out. Erased. Gone forever. They avoid it. Why? Because they know. Everyone knows.
No one touches the number 21. And they never will. It’s a sign of respect. For an NFL great who died too young. For a fearless safety who didn’t get to pummel opponents as long as he wanted to.