Dolphins Emphasize NFL Jersey Exchanges as Symbols of Respect and Nostalgia

Miami Gardens: You know, if you ever peeked into Calais Campbell’s locker during the season, you’d see a bunch of jerseys all neatly folded and signed. He’s got them ready to send off to some respected players soon. It’s become a big deal in the NFL, this postgame jersey exchange.

Campbell calls it a “mutual sign of respect,” and honestly, that’s what makes it special. After the divisional round playoff games this weekend, keep an eye on midfield. Players usually just say hi, but sometimes they’ll swap jerseys, which is a big deal for them.

There was this viral moment recently where a rookie, Roger Rosengarten, asked Myles Garrett for his jersey, saying he felt like a nobody. Garrett was super cool about it, saying, “You’re in this league, you’re winning games, you’re not a nobody.” That really meant a lot to Rosengarten.

Campbell believes that if you play the game right, you should be proud to have someone’s jersey. The whole jersey exchange thing has really evolved. It used to be all about swapping sweaty jerseys right after a game, but now they’re often washed and folded first.

Kendall Lamm, a veteran player, misses the old way of signing jerseys on the field, but he gets why it’s better now. Campbell agrees, saying it’s nice to have clean jerseys because some can get pretty funky. He’s got a huge collection, around 40 or 50 jerseys, including some from legends like Ray Lewis and Aaron Rodgers.

Duke Riley, another player, has about 30 jerseys, mostly from his LSU buddies. His favorite? Patrick Peterson. He even got a jersey from Peterson after mentioning how much he admired him.

A lot of players don’t display their jerseys yet. They’re waiting for their “forever home” after retirement to show them off. Lamm has about 30 jerseys, many from his time with the Texans, including ones from J.J. Watt and Duane Brown.

Jaylen Waddle, a Houston native, got Roger Clemens’ jersey when the Dolphins practiced with the Texans. He felt honored when Mike Evans, another Houston guy, asked for his jersey.

Campbell remembers the first time someone wanted his jersey. It was a big deal back then, and now it happens all the time. Players can’t really put a price on their collections; it’s all about the memories. Lamm says every jersey is priceless because of the stories behind them. They’ve shared experiences that most people can only dream of.