The NFL is reportedly expected to loosen up its rules about which players can what which numbers.
This comes after the Kansas City Chiefs proposed a rule that would allow players to wear a wider range of jersey numbers, including single digit options. According to NBC Sports’ Peter King, the proposed rule “is likely to pass later this month when owners vote on 2021 rules changes.”
Under the proposed rule, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, linebackers and defensive backs would all be allowed to wear numbers 1-49. Such a change would loosen the NFL’s rules to fall closer in line with the college game, where star players at the skill positions and on defense often wear numbers 1-19. It’s also something the NFL allows for skill position players during the preseason, as was the case with then-rookie Gunner Olszewski in 2019.
However, King argues that the league’s reasoning for changing the rules has less to do with letting players wear “cool” numbers than it does with lessening confusion on NFL rosters.
As things stand, NFL teams have 90-man rosters during the offseason. They also had 53-man rosters with 16-man practice squads in 2020. That, along with players on reserve lists can create a log jam for jersey numbers.
As King noted, three different players on the Chiefs wore the No. 30 during the regular season in 2020. Loosening number restrictions would prevent confusing cases such as those, especially when it comes to the 20-49 range, which is shared by running backs and defensive backs -- plus linebackers and tight ends in the 40s.
Things are confusing enough in training camp as it is, with teams like the Patriots typically having multiple jersey numbers shared between multiple players.
Allowing more players to access the underused 1-19 numbers would allow for fewer confusing scenarios, as King argues.
Currently No. 1-9 are only allowed for quarterbacks and kickers. Receivers are also allowed access to No. 10-19.
Here’s what the proposed eligibility rules look like:
Quarterbacks/Kickers: 1-19 (unchanged)
Running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, H-backs, receivers: 1-49, 80-89
Offensive linemen: 50-79 (unchanged)
Defensive linemen: 50-79, 90-99 (unchanged)
Linebackers: 1-59, 90-99
Here’s how the numbers currently work:
For reference, here’s how the jersey numbers currently work:
Quarterbacks/kickers: 1-19
Running backs and defensive backs: 20-49
Centers: 50-79
Offensive tackles and guards: 60-79
Wide receivers: 10-19, 80-89
Defensive linemen: 50-79, 90-99
Linebackers: 40-59, 90-99
Currently, the rule is still just a proposal and wouldn’t mark any changes until the league votes on it later this month.
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