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Anthony Hill would look great wearing the legendary No. 60

by: RT Young07/17/25
Anthony Hill
Anthony Hill (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill was asked about continuing one of the program’s most iconic traditions: the wearing of No. 60.

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That number is retired in honor of the legendary Tommy Nobis, arguably the greatest linebacker in college football history. Nobis was a two-way star on the 1963 national championship team. Coach Darrell Royal once called him “the finest two-way player I’ve ever seen.”

Though the jersey wasn’t officially retired until 2008, it had long been treated with reverence. Only a select few were allowed to wear it after Nobis left Austin for the Atlanta Falcons.

It’s a practice I wish Texas would adopt for other numbers rather than retiring them altogether. Numbers like No. 7 for defensive backs and No. 20 for running backs should remain in circulation, but only for those worthy of the legacy. That said, the toothpaste is out of the tube and the numbers are retired for a reason.

One of the most memorable exceptions came in 2004, when Derrick Johnson wore No. 60 in his final home game at DKR to honor Nobis. (By the way, this is yet another reminder to Chris Del Conte and Steve Sarkisian: Johnson’s No. 11 should be retired too.)

In the 1980s, Texas standout Britt Hager wore No. 60 and his son Breckyn later wore it twice. Though Breckyn didn’t reach the stature of his father or DJ, I respected the nod to such a timeless tradition.

I campaigned for Jaylan Ford to wear the number in 2023, especially after a remarkable 2022 season in which he won multiple games for Texas with clutch plays. The fact that it was never even considered was disappointing. That’s why I was glad to hear the question finally posed to Hill.

Because in just two seasons, Hill has built quite the résumé. He looks poised for a junior year that could cement his place alongside the great Texas linebackers—perhaps the upper echelon like Nobis and Johnson, but definitely others like Ford. He’s a near-lock to head to the NFL after this season.

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And like DJ, Hill should be allowed to take part in the tradition, donning No. 60 for his final home game. That game, fittingly, is against Texas A&M. A burnt orange No. 60 flying toward someone in maroon and white? That image alone should make every Longhorn fan nostalgic.

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