“Hey A.J. . . . So, uh, why 69?” I asked, more or less.

“For exactly the reason you would think,” he responded.

Francis is an entertaining chap who has driven for Uber, imagined a future career in pro wrestling and maintained a lively social-media presence, so it’s perhaps not shocking that he had extensive thoughts on this matter.

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“I chose 69 because I wore 96 in college, and 96 was taken here,” the former Terp said. “Everywhere I’ve been, when 96 was taken I got 69. Also — because I’m big and nasty. That’s why I wear 69. That’s the truth.”

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Big and nasty?

“Oh yeah,” he confirmed. “On and off the field. I’m a big, nasty dude. I’m a nice guy, and we’re cool, and we can have conversations. But on the field, I’m a different person, and anyone that’s played with me will tell you the same thing. You’ve got to compartmentalize, because it’s a man’s league. And if you’ve got a man on that field and you’re not nasty, you’re going to get abused. So you’ve got to be, and I’ve always been a big, nasty dude.”

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And so the reaction from teammates when they learn he is No. 69 will be … what? Fear? Terror? Laughter?

“They ask me why I changed to 69 from 97; I say because I’m big and nasty, and they all laugh, every one of the . . . every person on this team,” he said. “Every person, when you say you’re No. 69, they go 69??? Yeah, 69!”

Anyhow, it isn’t clear whether Francis — a 26-year-old fourth-year pro who has also spent time with the Dolphins and Seahawks — has a long-term future on this team. If he does, though, don’t be surprised to see 69 jerseys popping up at FedEx Field.