Steelers WR Rico Bussey: ‘Surreal’ to Wear Antonio Brown’s No. 84

PITTSBURGH — He is making his name known in Pittsburgh after a couple of standout training camp practices, but undrafted rookie Rico Bussey also has the pressure that comes with his number. Donning the number 84, Bussey has to follow in the footsteps of Antonio Brown.

Bussey never said he asked for it, in fact, the Steelers let him know it was open and he simply got the number as a result of it being available. Still, that does not change the pressure that is mounting upon Bussey’s shoulders since Brown might just be the best receiver to ever put on a Steelers uniform.

“I couldn’t even believe it,” Bussey said. “It’s surreal, really. I still can’t even believe it. It doesn’t feel real.”

Coming in and getting a number with that much history in Pittsburgh might divert someone from wearing it, but for Bussey, he is embracing it as a badge of honor.

“It was just the number they gave to me,” Bussey said. “I wasn’t really in a position to ask for nothing, really.”

Still, wearing that number comes with recognition and expectations to live up to the number. Bussey was asked if anyone called him AB in the crowd, but Bussey really just wants to carve out his own legacy in the number.

“No one really called me that,” Bussey said. “I just want to focus on myself and make plays.”

And make plays he did. Bussey was a monster down the field on Thursday, making a few great catches, including a touchdown from Dwayne Haskins in the two-minute drill. As Bussey looks to somehow sneak onto the team or practice squad as the sixth wide receiver, it doesn’t seem like the expectations of the digits on his jersey will hold him back.