David Bakhtiari has been through it. Five knee surgeries. Years of grinding through pain. Released by the Packers after 11 seasons. And yet? In 2024, the man still wanted to play. He told The Adam Schefter Podcast he finally feels right again after his latest procedure in November (2023), and he’s “really happy” with where things are trending. “I’m in constant pain,” he said. “I’m so happy now to be on the other side of it.”
Alas, it is not to be. But there’s no one to be blame apart from his injuries. From the ’20 season to the ’23 season, he could only feature in 13 of a possible 51 regular-season games. However, now that he’s back, he hopes to find a home in 2025. If not? Then maybe he could make it as an analyst.
Well, it’s not a ‘what if’ based on nothing. Here’s the scene: Just because he’s off the field doesn’t mean he’s off the mic. Especially when it comes to his alma mater—Colorado. And recently, Bakhtiari let it fly on X after his school announced it would retire Shedeur Sanders’ #2 and Travis Hunter’s #12 jerseys before the spring game. A huge honor, no doubt. But for Bakhtiari? That No. 2 didn’t sit right.
Yall trying to be slick thinking you can just sneak that one in there. https://t.co/CuyGX8xS67
— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) April 15, 2025
“You all trying to be slick thinking you can just sneak that one in there,” he wrote. That wasn’t just a hot take. That was a message. One directed straight at CU’s decision-makers. Because for Bakhtiari, there’s history behind that number. And it’s got a name: Deon Figures.
In a follow-up post, Bakhtiari dropped the resume: “1990 national champion, Jim Thorpe Award, Jack Tatum Award, Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year, Consensus All-American, first-round pick, six years in the NFL, College Football Hall of Fame.” That’s not just a list. That’s a legacy. And yeah, he wore No. 2 before Shedeur, more like the social media buzz of the Sanders, made it flashy.
Bakhtiari wasn’t denying Shedeur’s impact. No one is. But the core of his argument is simple: don’t erase the past in a rush to celebrate the present. And in this case? He felt like CU was doing just that. “All love, just wanted to give clarity,” Bakhtiari later added. But the point still stands. If you’re going to retire a number—especially one as storied as No. 2 in Boulder—you better acknowledge everyone who made it iconic.
That’s what the fans wanted to tell the college team. And they were pretty loud about it under the team’s post.
Fans get sarcastic about Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter
When Colorado announced it would retire No. 2 and No. 12 jersey numbers, in honor of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, respectively, fans didn’t exactly break out the confetti. Travis? Sure. Heisman winner. Two-way phenom. Built different. No one’s really pushing back there. But Shedeur? That one didn’t sit right with a chunk of the fanbase.
One fan hit the sarcasm button hard: “13-11 QB record gets your jersey retired!” And hey, that’s not just a random jab. Shedeur’s final record as Colorado’s quarterback wasn’t flashy. No conference titles. No playoff runs. And definitely no Natty. While his stats—4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and a 74% completion rate—look great on paper, fans are pointing to wins, not just numbers.
Another post followed up with a jab of its own: “The most impressive 13-12 in college football history. Thank you, Shedeur!” It’s the kind of dry humor only college football fans can deliver. And it underscores the biggest gripe: Jersey retirements have, until now, been sacred. A reward earned with time, rings, and legacy. Not just one electric season and a viral TikTok dance.
But not every fan was throwing straight shade. One comment broke it down with nuance: “CU wins 0 or 1 game max without Shedeur last year… Travis is fully deserving… They mocked Shedeur and played his music.” That’s a fair point. Shedeur wasn’t just the QB—he was the lightning rod. He carried the swagger, the pressure, and the target on his back all season. But was that enough to skip the legacy-building part?
Then came the full-court press: “What a complete joke. Hunter, MAYBE, but Shedeur… I can’t understand how anyone takes this program seriously.” That one cuts deep. Because for some fans, this decision signals a shift—less about tradition and more about showtime.
And if that wasn’t blunt enough, another chimed in: “This is laughable. What did they do to deserve a retired jersey?” That question lingers. No doubt Shedeur and Travis changed Colorado’s brand overnight. But in the eyes of these fans, the Hall of Fame-style treatment? That might’ve come a few decades early.
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