Wide receivers wearing No. 1? Defensive backs in the teens? Linebackers in the 20s? It could happen this year in the NFL.
The Kansas City Chiefs last week proposed a rule change that would relax the league’s longstanding uniform number regulations, and according to a report Monday from NBC Sports’ Peter King, that rule is likely to pass.
The proposed new format would keep the existing framework for quarterbacks, specialists and linemen on both sides of the ball but would open up new jersey number possibilities for linebackers, defensive backs and offensive skill players.
Via King’s “Football Morning in America” column:
Quarterback, punter, kicker: 1-19
Running back, tight end, wide receiver: 1-49, 80-89
Defensive back: 1-49
Linebacker: 1-59, 90-99
Offensive line: 50-79
Defensive line: 50-79, 90-99
While we’re disappointed we won’t see any single-digit defensive tackles in the NFL this season, it will be very interesting to see which players opt for number changes if this proposal is, in fact, approved.