WATCH: Fired up Joe Bergin reacts to earning Northwestern’s prestigious No. 1 jersey

Northwestern unveiled who would wear the team’s sole No. 1 jersey for the Wildcats on Thursday, and the special honor fell to senior DB Joe Bergin for 2019.

According to Inside NU, the tradition of having a sole player wear No. 1 began in 2011. The honor is voted on by players with head coach Pat Fitzgerald indicating that this year’s vote was unanimous:

We don’t give the number out in recruiting.

You can’t ask for it once you’re here.

You have to earn it in the eyes of your teammates by representing everything we believe in.

There can be only 1️⃣. #GoCats pic.twitter.com/rP4ra14Kr9

— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) August 1, 2019

After the unveiling, Bergin took the podium to address his teammates. He discussed the closeness of the team before his teammates gathered around him.

“I’ve never been around a group as close as this,” said Bergin, “So I’m excited to see where we go this season. I’m honored and privileged.”

Selected by his teammates for the privilege of wearing 1️⃣ this season.

Congratulations, Joe Bergin.#GoCats pic.twitter.com/Qyu2TIH5td

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 2, 2019

Here’s hoping Bergin and the Wildcats can pull off another B1G West title under Fitzgerald.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.