Philadelphia, PA – June 1, 2025
It’s just a jersey number — or is it? When Kenneth Gainwell showed up to Eagles OTAs this week wearing the number 14, it should’ve been a simple swap. But within hours, fans across Philadelphia and Dallas were lighting up social media, dissecting whether the move was something far more deliberate: an unspoken message to former teammate and now Dallas Cowboys wideout George Pickens.
Just months ago, Pickens arrived in Dallas after a blockbuster trade and immediately claimed the No. 14 jersey — the same number he wore in Philadelphia last season. Now, that number is stitched across the chest of one of the Eagles’ longest-tenured offensive weapons. Coincidence? Fans aren’t buying it.
"Gainwell didn’t just take a number,” one Eagles fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “He took back our pride. Nobody wears 14 in Philly if they’re wearing a star now.”
Insiders say the number became available after Pickens' exit, and Gainwell — who previously wore No. 19 — didn’t hesitate to make the switch. But it’s the timing and the choice that are fueling speculation. Pickens' departure to Dallas, a team that lives rent-free in every Eagles fan’s head, left a bitter taste in Philadelphia. For Gainwell, this may have been his way of restoring that balance.
NFL Network's James Palmer chimed in on the buzz: "It’s not uncommon for players to switch numbers, but this one has some heat. Gainwell taking 14 the moment Pickens walks into Cowboys camp? That’s Philly energy all day."
While neither player has addressed the situation publicly, sources inside the Eagles facility say Gainwell’s been locked in all offseason, and the number change reflects a shift in mindset more than a rivalry. Still, even silent statements speak volumes in a league built on swagger, shade, and symbolism.
Whether intentional or not, No. 14 is now back in green — and fans are loving it.
"He erased Pickens from our memory," another fan wrote. “That number doesn’t belong in Dallas anyway.”
In Philadelphia, even jersey numbers come with a chip on the shoulder. And Kenneth Gainwell? He just might be carrying the whole city’s attitude on his back this fall.
