On January 4, 2025, the Bulls delivered the ultimate tribute, announcing that the No. 1 jersey will hang in the rafters, forever immortalizing Derrick Rose as one of the franchise’s most beloved figures. The youngest MVP in league history, Rose’s legacy in Chicago has always carried emotional weight. But that was almost seven months ago; now the story has a major update.

Recently, a video made it to the internet of a stunned Derrick Rose, surrounded by familiar faces, fighting back tears. The news? CHSN_Bulls posted on X, “The Chicago Bulls will retire Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey on January 24, 2026 🌹”. The Bulls have decided to honor Rose during a match against the Celtics the coming January.

Soon, Rose also shared his own thoughts, not through a press conference, but in a brief Instagram story: “The game has given me more than I ever could have imagined. From Englewood to the rafters, my story has always been about making the city proud. This isn’t for me, this is for Chicago. Peace and Love, Pooh 1.24.26”

Growing up in Englewood, a Simeon kid, Rose carried Chicago with him every time he stepped on the floor. From being drafted No. 1 overall pick in 2008 to being named the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011, Derrick’s future was bright and decided. Yet, with multiple injuries, his journey was cut short.

However, Rose still became a three-time All-Star and led the Bulls to seven consecutive playoff appearances. In his 2010-11 MVP season, he averaged twenty-five points and 7.7 assists while leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record. Rose has played 406 regular-season games with the Bulls. After his jersey is officially retired, he will become the fifth player, joining Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen, in franchise history to receive this honor.

Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement immortalizes him for the Bulls

The official announcement came earlier this year, when the Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf personally informed Derrick Rose of the team’s decision. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf described the honor as a recognition of more than basketball accolades, calling Rose both a hometown hero and a defining figure of an entire era of Bulls basketball. Reinsdorf emphasized that retiring a jersey is about acknowledging the player’s deep and lasting impact on the franchise.

In a video posted by the BleacherReport on X, longtime Bulls staffer Mike Wilhelm is seen telling Derrick directly, “Next year when we retire your number and at rafters, it’s going to be more about you than fans… I’m just telling nobody’s wearing that number one jersey again unless, PJ is a Bull, then he’s wearing that number one jersey all right is that fair? We really, I mean, Derrick, we love you. We appreciate everything you’ve done for Chicago, and you’re a special person.” 

The upcoming jersey retirement on January 24, 2026, will be a city-wide celebration of resilience and pride. The Bulls plan to mark the occasion with “The Derrick Rose Experience” inside the United Center atrium, tribute giveaways throughout the season, and four commemorative figurine nights, each representing a different chapter of Rose’s Bulls journey. No one’s worn No. 1 in a Bulls game since Rose was traded in 2016. And now, no one ever will, unless his son PJ becomes a Bull.