On Wednesday, team owners approved a rule change allowing different positions to wear a wider range of uniform numbers.
The new rule change will allow quarterbacks, punters and kickers to wear numbers 1-19. Defensive backs can wear 1-49. Running backs, full backs, tight ends, half backs and wide receivers can wear 1-49 and 80-99. Offensive linemen can now wear 50-79, defensive linemen can wear both 50-79 and 80-99. Linebackers are permitted to wear 1-59 and 90-99.
“Frankly, the players themselves like having the options,” NFL executive president of football operations Troy Vincent said after the vote. “I know it is not what we are accustomed to seeing, someone on the line wearing a single digit, but I think it is fun.”
The new guidelines were proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2020, the Chiefs had a shortage of jersey numbers in the 20 to 49 range. The shortage was caused by several jersey numbers retired in the franchise. This is an issue that many other franchises will have in the future.
One prominent NFL Star is upset at the new rule changes. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady disagrees with the new rule change. “Good luck trying to block the right people now,” Brady posted on an Instagram story. “Going to make for a lot of bad football.” In the Instagram story the quarterback circled part of the rule change and wrote, “Why not let the Linemen wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys… why not wear the same numbers?” Brady wrote.
The quarterback then retweeted a tweet with his opposition towards the rule change and wrote, “I would like to speak to the manager please”
Brady opposes the new changes because it would make it harder for offensive linemen to protect quarterbacks.
