It didn’t take long for Detroit Lions first-round pick Tyleik Williams to make his presence felt—not just on the field, but in the locker room too. The former Ohio State standout is officially switching from No. 78, the number he wore during rookie minicamp, to his preferred No. 91.
Back in May, Williams made it clear he wasn’t a fan of wearing 78. “Trying to get 91,” he said at the time, “but it’s already taken.” That number belonged to veteran defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike—at least it did.
Fast forward to now, and Williams shared a screenshot on Instagram showing a message that his number had officially been changed to 91. That all but confirms that Onwuzurike gave it up, likely in exchange for something behind the scenes. (Jersey swaps among teammates often come with some form of compensation—cash, gifts, even meals.)
Onwuzurike has worn multiple numbers since joining Detroit: 75 as a rookie, 91 the past few seasons. Where he goes next is still unclear, with some potential options being 79, 77, or 56—though many numbers are already claimed with the roster sitting at 90 players.
One thing’s for sure: Williams is back in the number he made famous at Ohio State, and that’s got to feel good heading into his first NFL season. As for Onwuzurike, we’ll see what number he lands on—and maybe what he got in return.
Rookie Power Move: Lions’ 1st-Rounder Lands College Number After Jersey Switch
