Lucky number: The 9 best athletes to wear number 9 (2024)

March 17, 2021 5:29 pm ET

Drew Brees bids goodbye after remarkable NFL career

(Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees broke records with ease, while another future Hall of Famer, basketball star Tony Parker, recently watched his jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow appears he’s gonna live up to the hype.

The number 9 in Chinese culture means longevity and eternality. In America, just a number, but a good one. And some of these greats played, or continue to play, at a high level for many seasons.

Here’s a list, non-ranked, of the best of the best.

Matthew Stafford

Sonny Jurgensen

(Photo by Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Michael Jordan

And because we can, we’re gonna throw in two extra ones.

OK, OK. It’s too early for the LSU stud to be on this list but what the hell. We like to be ahead of the curve.

Too soon, you say? We’ll see, but we’re betting Burrow is on his way to greatness. So there.

Joe Burrow

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees broke records with ease, while another future Hall of Famer, basketball star Tony Parker, recently watched his jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow appears he’s gonna live up to the hype.

The number 9 in Chinese culture means longevity and eternality. In America, just a number, but a good one. And some of these greats played, or continue to play, at a high level for many seasons.

Here’s a list, non-ranked, of the best of the best.

Tony Parker

Matthew Stafford

Ronaldo

Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002, and helped lead Brazil to World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002.

Joe DiMaggio

Ted Williams

Roger Maris

Ralph Kiner

Sonny Jurgensen

(Photo by Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Gordie Howe

Bobby Hull

Mike Modano

Michael Jordan

And because we can, we’re gonna throw in an extra one.

OK, OK. It’s too early for the LSU stud to be on this list but what the hell. We like to be ahead of the curve.

Too soon, you say? We’ll see, but we’re betting Burrow is on his way to greatness. So there.

Joe Burrow

Drew Brees

(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

Look, kid, your Dad is an NFL legend.

Tony Parker

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A four-time champion, six-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP (2007).

Joe DiMaggio

(STF/AFP via Getty Images)

You may have heard of him and not just because of Marilyn Monroe.

His MLB 56-game hitting streak (May 15 – July 16, 1941) is a record that still stands.

Ronaldo

(Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002, and helped lead Brazil to World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002.

Ted Williams

(AP Photo/File)

If that stare doesn’t tell ya, this guy, with these nicknames: “Teddy Ballgame”, “The Kid”, “The Splendid Splinter” and “The Thumper” could belt a baseball well.