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Bears Assign Singletary's No. 50 Jersey To Anderson

(CBS) For the first time in 20 years, a Bears defender will don jersey No. 50.

The team assigned the number once worn by Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary to newly-acquired linebacker James Anderson.

According to a report from the team's website, the Hall of Famer is OK with his number coming out of storage.

"He said he wasn't aware that it hadn't been assigned, that he's got no problem with it, and he's perfectly fine with it," Bears chairman George McCaskey said. "In fact, he would prefer that it be assigned to somebody. He said, 'I'd rather somebody wear it than see it hanging it up in a window somewhere."

The 29-year-old Anderson said he knows just how special this number is to the Bears organization.

"There's a lot of history behind this number with the Bears, and I'm honored and blessed that they would even consider letting me wear it," he said.

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