Chad Johnson Name Change

On October 25, 2006, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, when his last name was still Johnson, he announced that he would prefer to be called "Ocho Cinco" ("8-5" in Spanish, though 85 actually reads as "ochenta y cinco" in Spanish).[29] During warm-ups for the October 29, 2006 game against the Atlanta Falcons, the back of his jersey read "Ocho Cinco" instead of "C. Johnson". Quarterback Carson Palmer ripped the label off the jersey to reveal the usual "C. Johnson".[30] According to ESPN, Ochocinco was fined $5,000 for the stunt despite the fact that he did not wear the "Ocho Cinco" name tag during the game.[31]

He legally changed his name to Chad Javon Ochocinco on August 29, 2008.[4] The Cincinnati Bengals decided to allow him to have it on the back of his jersey,[32] though Ochocinco continued to wear his old "C. Johnson" jersey during the 2008 football season,[33] due to financial obligations with Reebok. He will play with "Ochocinco" on the back of his jersey during the 2009 season.[34] He wanted it to read "Ocho Cinco" but the NFL will only allow his legal name as spelled on his name change paperwork.[35]