Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is changing his jersey number heading into Year 2—and it’s not just a fashion statement. Arnold, who wore No. 0 as a rookie, will now sport No. 6 in honor of his late friend and former Alabama teammate, Khyree Jackson.
Jackson tragically passed away in a car accident last July. The two were close, having shared the field together at Alabama in 2021 and 2022 before Jackson transferred to Oregon. While Arnold was drafted in the first round by the Lions in 2024, Jackson was selected in the fourth by the Minnesota Vikings.
Jackson was set to wear No. 31 with the Vikings, but No. 6 was his number at Bama—a number that clearly stuck with Arnold. Minnesota paid tribute with “KJ” helmet decals last season and kept Jackson’s number off-limits.
Arnold opened up about the number switch on the New Wave Podcast, saying, “I just feel like just being able to honor his legacy and then the impact that he even had on me.”
The young corner started 15 games for Detroit last season and, despite leaving the regular season finale on a cart, returned in time for the playoffs, logging six tackles in the Wild Card loss to Washington.
Now, with a fresh number and extra motivation, Arnold’s gearing up for a big sophomore season—carrying the memory of his brother in football with him every step of the way.
Terrion Arnold Switching to No. 6 to Honor Late Teammate Khyree Jackson
