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Desmond Howard reacts to Matthew Golden receiving his jersey number from Packers
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Desmond Howard didn’t spend much time in a Green Bay Packers uniform, but sometimes it’s all about quality and not quantity.
In Howard’s case, that’s exactly it. The former Michigan star only played parts of 2 seasons with the hallowed Packers franchise, in 1996 and 1999. During the 1996 season there, he only caught 13 passes for 95 yards and never reached the end zone. But he reached the end zone 3 times as a punt returner that year, averaging 15.1 yards per punt return, and he averaged 20.9 yards per kick return.
Speaking of those kick returns, Howard’s place in Packers lore was cemented by one of the most famous kick returns in NFL history, because it happened in a key point in a Super Bowl. With the New England Patriots hanging tough with the favored Packers, Howard’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was the backbreaker for the Patriots and the moment when most knew the Packers were going to win that Super Bowl.
Suddenly, Howard was a part of Packers lore, and he wore No. 81, so suddenly that number had a special place, too. But now there will be another Packer wearing No. 81, and it’s former Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, was taken 23rd overall by Green Bay in the first round on Thursday night.
Howard had no problem with Golden taking his former number with the Packers. In fact, he gave his endorsement on Friday night on ESPN.
“That’s a good thing. I approve of that,” said Howard, who was part of ESPN’s draft coverage in Green Bay, where he likely will never have to buy a drink again for that 1 kickoff return.
Now, it’ll be Golden, hopefully doing big things for the Packers as No. 81, and Howard wanted to sign off on his approval of the whole thing.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
