Carson Beck Is Stuck With No. 19, And Larry Fitzgerald's Shadow Is Only Getting Bigger

Alright, 12s, you gotta hear this one. Our division rivals down south, the Cardinals, just dropped some jersey number news for their new third-round quarterback, Carson Beck, who they picked up in April. And honestly? It's less about the number he *got* and way more about the number he *couldn't* touch. Beck is gonna rock No. 19 for the Redbirds, but the real story is Larry Fitzgerald's No. 11, which is apparently untouchable. This dude is already facing an uphill battle, and it's not even about the playbook yet!

The Unholy Ghost of No. 11

Can you believe it? The Cardinals drafted a fresh-faced quarterback, and before he even throws a pass, he's navigating legendary territory. Beck told azcardinals.com that he knew Larry Fitzgerald wore No. 11 for Arizona, and he also figured, “Somebody’s jersey will probably be getting retired here shortly, so I don’t think 11 is a good option.” Smart kid, I guess. He wanted No. 11 when he arrived at Georgia, but Stetson Bennett already had it, so he wore No. 15. Then, when he transferred to the University of Miami, he *finally* got to wear 11. Only to be told by the Cardinals that Fitz's number is essentially off-limits. You can practically see the ghost of Fitz's incredible catches haunting their locker r

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oom. Our guys, like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, don't have to deal with that kind of legend breathing down their necks when picking numbers, thank goodness.

"Oh No": The Curse of No. 19?

So, instead of his preferred No. 11, Beck is now saddled with No. 19. And his reaction? Priceless. He actually looked and thought, “There are no numbers between 1 and 19 except 19. Oh no.” He went on to tell Darren Urban that his friends started making fun of him because, let's be real, "Not many quarterbacks have 19." His solution? To "turn it into a positive thing" and "make it my own." Good luck, man. He does know Johnny Unitas, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, also wore No. 19 for the Colts back in 1956. But Beck admits he doesn't know much more than that. This isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for the confidence a rookie QB needs early in the season, is it? We’re talking about a guy who’s supposed to lead a team in our division. That's a rough start to making your own legacy when your friends are already clowning you. So, while Beck tries to "make his own" No. 19, the rest of the NFC West is watching. It just goes to show you the kind of pressure these new guys are under, especially in a division where every game matters from day one. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold is out there at Lumen Field, just focused on getting the job done, no number drama needed. Go Hawks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.