National Football League players wore patches with "GU 63" on their jerseys to start the 2008 season. The GU symbol is a tribute to the late Gene Upshaw, who wore jersey number 63 for the Oakland Raiders and was the Executive Director of the NFL Players Association. Upshaw passed away in August of 2008 from pancreatic cancer. Every player will wear the patch throughout the 2008 season.1
"When I looked out here and saw all the people who came in — owners, general managers, teammates, players all around the league, former players, referees — that tells you how many lives he touched. We're here to celebrate his life. He was a great man, the greatest person I've ever known."—Art Shell2
National Football League | NFL Week 1 | Gene Upshaw | GU 63