Commanders Rookie Sonny Styles Explains Emotional No. 52 Choice

Sonny Styles was selected as the seventh overall pick in this year's draft.

Commanders Rookie Sonny Styles Explains Emotional No. 52 Choice

Sonny Styles (middle) with Commanders’ GM Adam Peters (left) and Managing Partner Josh Harris (right) (Image via Washington Commanders)

In Short
  • Sonny Styles chose jersey No. 52 as a tribute to legends like Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis, and to honor his draft pick number.
  • The Washington Commanders drafted Styles seventh overall after his impressive NFL Combine performance.
  • The team is undergoing coaching changes, with Dan Quinn remaining head coach and new coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones joining the staff.

The Washington Commanders’ rookie linebacker, Sonny Styles, addressed his emotional choice of No. 52 as his jersey number in a recent press conference. The 21-year-old from Ohio State laid out the multiple reasons behind his selection of the number, including a tribute to past legends and a cheeky way of honoring his draft selection number.

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Styles was drafted seventh overall by the Commanders after his exceptional numbers at the NFL Combine. The 21-year-old, who was part of the Ohio State Buckeyes winning campaign in 2024, recorded the first sub-4.5 40-yard dash, 40+ inch vertical jump, and 11+ inch broad jump since 2003 for someone of his stature. Styles is 6ft 5 inches and 243 lbs.

On Friday, the rookie signed a new contract with the Commanders and was introduced in the press conference in burgundy and gold colors of Commanders. Styles admitted that he didn’t ask Mike Sainristil for the number ‘0’ he wore in college. When probed, Styles divulged that he wasn’t much of a numbers guy, but certain factors did play a role in his choosing 52.

I was gonna take a 50 number, and growing up, I would watch Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis, and I thought No. 52 would be cool. Then my dad pointed out that five plus two is seven, which was the number of my draft pick. I thought it was pretty cool. That’s how I landed on it. I didn’t have a special number or whatever.

Sonny Styles said

Styles, son of former Super Bowl champion Lorenzo Styles, will compete for the inside linebacker spots available on the roster. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that while Styles can be a beast in both spots, there are nuances to be learned. He added that Styles will go through tests throughout the offseason to prepare him better for the defensive schemes that the team’s new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones, plans to install.

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The Washington Commanders seek a revamp under new offensive and defensive coordinators

The Washington Commanders were one of the highlights of the 2024 season, shooting into the conference finals with fierce intensity. However, the results last season were a direct contrast as their main star, Jayden Daniels, was sidelined due to an injury, and the team looked a lot less cohesive compared to the previous year.

Dan Quinn Sonny Styles
Washington Commanders head coach, Dan Quinn, shakes his hand with rookie linebacker, Sonny Styles, during the rookie mini camp on May 8, 2026, at Ashburn, Virginia (Image via Washington Commanders)

The Commanders, seeking to improve on their 5-12 record, have made some major coaching changes. Dan Quinn will remain as the head coach, but they have promoted their assistant quarterbacks coach, David Blough, to offensive coordinator, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. They also brought in Daronte Jones from the Minnesota Vikings as the defensive coordinator.

In the press conference ahead of the rookie minicamp, Quinn praised his new coaching staff. Quinn said that it was “fun to see him (Blough) install the whole thing, you know, in front of the room, an identity of what we’d like to be of the different teachings.” He added that Blough has instigated a chemistry between the offensive coaching groups and mentioned his ability to listen to everyone’s opinions aligns with the type of environment he’s planning to install in Washington.

As for Jones, Quinn noted that the former Vikings defensive pass game coordinator was extremely organized. Quinn stated that Jones’ approach to handling other defensive staff and talking to the players ensured that all the necessary steps were carried out. He highlighted that “though at times it can seem complex to what we’re doing, there’s actually a lot of clarity that goes with it.“

With all six draft picks officially signed, the Commanders turned their attention to the rookie minicamp over the past two days. Over the two days, the newcomers were joined by 21 tryout players, eight second-year players, and the team’s returning International Player Pathway participant as preparations for the 2026 season continue.

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