Ryan Clark signed on for his second stint with the Washington Redskins earlier this offseason. The veteran previously played for the Redskins in 2004 and 2005, when he was teammates with the late Sean Taylor. As a tribute to Taylor, Clark has been wearing a No. 21 jersey during practice. He’ll continue to wear it during organized team activities.
“Extremely honored and blessed to get another opportunity to rep for a friend!” Clark wrote on Instagram. “Miss ya bro! R.I.P S. Dot!”
Back in April, Clark asked Taylor’s former fiancee if she would be OK with him wearing Taylor’s No. 21 during the spring and summer. She gave Clark her blessing, and he later explained his decision on “The Lavar and Dukes Show.”
“Every time somebody asks me why I wear a different number to practice, I get to tell Sean’s story,” Clark said, via Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog. “I get to tell people about the guy I love. I get to tell people about the guy who was possibly on his way to being the greatest safety to ever play the game. And that got cut short. He never got to realize his full potential. But it gives me the opportunity to remind people of him.”
Taylor was shot and killed during a home invasion at age 24. The Redskins do not retire jersey numbers, but his has not been worn with the team since his death.
