The Atlanta Falcons have appeared to upset fans after announcing the squad numbers of their 2025 rookie class. While Falcons fans were no doubt excited to see the team draft two first-round pass rushers, many have been left stunned by Jalon Walker’s new number.
Walker will wear the No. 11 jersey, previously worn by Falcons legend Julio Jones.
Atlanta Falcons Upset Fans With Rookie’s Jersey Number
Atlanta recently revealed which numbers each of their 2025 rookie class will wear in 2025, with one number in particular catching the eye. No. 11 is a number that has grown synonymous with top edge rushers, with Micah Parsons the most notable example in today’s NFL.
For Falcons fans, though, the number is synonymous with one man only. Jones is Atlanta’s all-time franchise leader in receiving yards and a close second in career touchdowns. So the announcement that Walker, the team’s first pick in April’s draft, will wear the number has not gone down well.
At the time of writing, the team’s social media post that announced the numbers has received almost 200 comments, many of them angry. Fans have criticized the team for giving away Jones’ number, with some calling for it to be retired.
‘What a Joke’ – Fans Criticize Falcons For Controversial Number Choice
Opinions on the team’s decision to hand Walker the No. 11 jersey are divided, but the majority appear to be upset about it. Some fans, though, have played down the significance of the number, while others have openly criticized Jones for the way he left the team in 2021. One comment pointed to Jones’ actions toward the end of his Falcons career and for disrespecting fellow Falcons legend Matt Ryan.
Get outta here with this Julio Jones glaze. Bro disrespected Matt Ryan and the entire franchise on his way out. Then didn’t even show up when Matt Ryan was inducted in the ring of honor.
Foh are yall a fan of the falcons or these players???
— aTraes (@GriftGod_) May 7, 2025
While some remain unbothered by the decision, it’s clear that the move has angered a significant portion of the team’s fan base. One comment called the decision “a joke,” while another labelled the team “a laughing stock.”
Letting someone else wear 11 lol what a joke
— NomadCards (@NomadCards) May 7, 2025
Giving 11 away to a rookie is why this franchise is and always will be a laughing stock
— David (@david_1075) May 7, 2025
The debate surrounding Jones and his number could be copied and pasted into the fan base of almost any franchise in the league. Sports teams represent entire cities, sometimes states, with fans of all ages and from all walks of life. While Falcons fans may disagree on the relevance of a jersey number, it’s something that many feel incredibly strongly about.
Jones was a generational talent at wide receiver, his 1,871 receiving yards in 2015 ranks third in NFL history, while his 1,677 in 2018 ranks 19th. That makes Jones one of only five receivers in history to record two top-20 all-time receiving seasons. His No. 11 jersey may be moving on, but his impact on Falcons fans is still very much alive.