Makai Lemon Gets Nick Foles’ Approval to Wear Iconic No. 9 in Philadelphia

Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon has received permission to wear the number 9 jersey, previously word by quarterback Nick Foles.

Makai Lemon Gets Nick Foles’ Approval to Wear Iconic No. 9 in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (Image via IMAGO)

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Lemon is going to share a locker room comprised of Super Bowl winners AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Before getting right into the business, the Eagles asked Lemon to pick his jersey number, and he settled on the number 9.

Lemon announced that he will be wearing the number 9 during his rookie NFL season. As Eagles fans know, that number was previously owned and worn by retired Eagles quarterback Nick Foles during his Super Bowl-winning campaign. Lemon thanked Foles for allowing him to wear his number.

I appreciate the Eagles so much and Nick Foles, especially, to pass that number down [to me] because I know he could have easily kept that number to himself. Such a great player [Foles] when he was here [in Philly] wearing that number 9, led them to the Super Bowl. I appreciate him so much. I definitely cherish that so much. I’ll represent the number 9 well wearing it, representing the team well. I’m just super excited to get that number, for sure.

Makai Lemon said (HT/Chris McPherson of the Eagles official website)

The Eagles traded with the Dallas Cowboys on the first day of the draft. Dallas received the 23rd pick while the Eagles moved up to 20. This move blindsided the Pittsburgh Steelers, who wanted to select Lemon.

Makai Lemon eyed the number 6 before settling on the number 9 jersey

Lemon wore number 6 at USC. In his final season, he racked up 1156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 75 receptions. According to reports, he tried to stick with the number 6 in Philly.

Makai Lemon Gets Nick Foles’ Approval to Wear Iconic No. 9 in Philadelphia
Makai Lemon (Image via IMAGO)

However, number 6 is already taken. That number is currently owned by DeVonta Smith. He reached out to Smith, but he declined to give his number.

The Eagles fans can breathe easy because there won’t be any tension between Lemon and Smith regarding the number. A day after the Eagles took Lemon, both he and the former Heisman Trophy winner attended a Philadelphia 76ers game.

A Cowboys insider hints that the Cowboys may have played a hand in the Eagles drafting Makai Lemon

Lemon was on the phone speaking with the Steelers’ general manager and the coaches. The Steelers were ready to send in their pick and take the 21-year-old wideout. While Lemon was talking, he also noticed the Eagles were calling him; that’s when one of the crew members told him the Eagles were going to select him at 20.

Pittsburgh wasn’t reportedly unhappy about losing out on their top target. And according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys may have tipped off the Eagles about the Steelers’ plans.

It could have been as simple as somebody in the Dallas [Cowboys] war room shooting a text to somebody in the Pittsburgh [Steelers] war room and being like, ‘Hey, who are y’all taking here?’ And them thinking the Cowboys are taking defense — ‘Oh, we’re taking [Makai] Lemon.’ The Cowboys call Philadelphia [Eagles] and they’re like, ‘Hey, the Steelers are going to take Makai Lemon, we know you want a receiver — come up here, do this deal with us, give us two fourth-round picks. And they did. Pittsburgh is pissed. Multiple sources have told me [that].

Harris said on the House of Haymaker podcast

Leom went to Philly, Dallas drafted UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at 23, and the Steelers had to fall back on plan B and select Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at 22nd overall.

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