It’s official: NFL fans will start seeing players other than quarterbacks and specialists wearing single-digit numbers in 2021. According to Albert Breer of NFL Network, the league owners passed a rule proposal this week that allows players at certain positions to wear numbers between 1 and 9.
That is not the only expansion of the league’s numbering system, however. Rules about many positions have been eased, with the following ranges now being allowed as first reported by Peter King earlier this month:
- QBs, punters, kickers: 1-19 (no change)
- RBs: 1-49 and 80-89
- WRs: 1-49 and 80-89
- TEs: 1-49 and 80-89
- OL: 50-79 (no change)
- DL: 50-79 and 90-99
- LBs: 1-59 and 90-99
- DBs: 1-49
Perhaps the biggest change here is that players at all offensive “skill” positions — running backs, receivers, and tight ends — now have access to the entire slate of numbers allocated for eligible receivers.