New NFL jersey number guidelines.

[PhilSimms11]

The NFL has upheld rigid jersey number restrictions since 1973, requiring certain positions to fall within certain digits, but that will change dramatically in 2021. The league has instituted minor tweaks over the years, like allowing wide receivers to wear numbers between 10-19 in addition to 80-89, but the NFL's competition committee voted Wednesday to pass a proposal by the Kansas City Chiefs significantly loosening restrictions -- so much that every skill position will now be eligible to wear single digits.

The proposal reportedly primarily stemmed from the increasing size of offseason and in-season rosters, which cut down on teams' available jersey numbers, especially if franchises have also retired or paused usage of certain digits made famous by all-time greats. But they'll likely be a welcome change for many players who enjoyed more jersey-number freedom in college.

• According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, if a player wants to switch his number under the new rules in 2021, the first season with the new guidelines in place, he'll be required to buy out the existing inventory of his previous jersey from official distributors. Otherwise, if he waits until 2022, switching numbers to take advantage of the new rules won't come at a cost.

• QB: 1-19
• RB/WR/TE: 1-49, 80-89
• OL: 50-79
• DL: 50-79, 90-99
• LB: 1-59, 90-99
• CB/S: 1-49
• K/P: 1-19

 

[R.J. MacReady]

Brady is freaking out about this rule change.

I'm just having a hard time figuring out how 1 team could ask for this rule to be changed and boom it's done.
There has to be some other motive here.

Tom Brady is completely flipping out over NFL’s ‘dumb’ jersey number rule

Tom Brady isn’t a fan of the NFL’s rule change that allows players to change their jersey number based on position, saying that it’s “dumb,” and is “going to mak…

nypost.com

 

[VikingFan2k2]

I hate this. It's going to look ugly and unorganized.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I don't understand why this was necessary? The increase in in-season rosters?

Not against it... Although I don't think I will care for defensive guys wearing single digits

 

[Dolemite censored]

I don't understand why this was necessary? The increase in in-season rosters?

Not against it... Although I don't think I will care for defensive guys wearing single digits

I agree with that last part.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

NFL: "Well fans, we're still going to have abstract rules, wrong calls, questionable flags, the same shitty challenge/replay system, stupid kickoff rules, etc........ BUT WE HAVE A NEW NUMBER SCHEME!!!!! ISN'T THAT COOOOOL!? THIS WAY WE CAN GET EVEN MORE SALES WHEN PLAYERS CHANGE THEIR NUMBERS!"

"Uh Steve, you weren't supposed to say that last part..."

"Yah but that's like the ultimate goal, right?"

*leans over to man in dark glasses/suit* "We need to make Steve disappear....."

 

[wazzu31]

It was one of those things you thought was dumb, but when they change it you realize that allowing all sorts of numbers is dumb.

 

[PhilSimms11]

Will Jadaveon Clowney go back to #7? HA!