For DeMario Douglas, the decision to switch his jersey number this season was simple.

Due to the Patriots rookie number rule that Bill Belichick had for many years, Douglas couldn’t have a single digit number last year. Instead, he went with No. 81.

But ahead of his second season and with so much change happening, many players decided to change their number. And Douglas took the number that he had held for so many years: No. 3.

His reason for wearing that number for his whole life is what truly makes it special.

“Because I was raised by three strong ladies,” Douglas told reporters on Tuesday. “My mom, my grandma, my great grandma.”

Douglas wore the No. 3 through little league, middle school, his first football stint in high school, and then again at Liberty.

Fellow second-year player Christian Gonzalez also spoke about changing his number earlier that day and had similar motivation, since it’s a number he has history with.

But when asked how he feels that the current rookies don’t have to deal with the higher jersey numbers, his answer was priceless.

“Obviously I’m a little sick cause they don’t have to do it,” Gonzalez said with the a smile.

Gonzalez will also be the first player in Patriots history to wear No. 0.

So be sure to look out for No. 3 and No. 0 on the field during the 2024 season.