NCAA Alabama Crimson Tide football players (in red) facing off against the Florida Gators with uniform numbers visible on their helmetsĪccording to NCAA rule book, Rule 1 Section 4 Article 1 'strongly recommends' numbering as follows for offensive players: 1–9) the NFL itself added that allowance starting in 2021. In the XFL, the NFL numbering conventions were followed with a slight exception being that wide-receivers are allowed to wear single-digit numbers (i.e. Īlthough the NFL does allow teams to retire jersey numbers, the league officially discourages the practice for fear of teams running out of numbers the rule book requires teams to make available retired numbers for new players should they exhaust all available numbers at a particular position.

Additionally, during a game a player may play out-of-position, but only after reporting in to the referees, who will announce to the stadium that a specific player number has reported in (for example 'Number 61 has reported as an eligible receiver') to alert the opposing team, other officials, and the audience that a player is legally out-of-position. If they later change positions, they can keep their prior number, unless it conflicts with the eligible receiver rule that is only players that change positions from an eligible position (such as receiver or back) to an ineligible position (such as an offensive lineman) are required to change numbers if they change position. The numbers used relate to the player's primary position when they are first assigned a number. Number rangeĮxceptions to this system do exist, including during the National Football League preseason with associated larger team rosters. As of 2023, players are generally required to wear numbers within ranges based on their positions as shown in the following table. The National Football League numbering system dates from a large-scale change of their rules in 1973, subsequently amended in various minor ways.

See also: List of National Football League retired numbers 00 remains prohibited in American football. Other than this, the correspondence between jersey numbers and player positions is largely a matter of style, tradition and semantics.Ĭanadian football follows a similar numbering scheme to that of American football, except that the ineligible numbers span only 50 to 69 and numbers 0 and 00 have long been available for use, although beginning in the 2023 CFL season a Canadian Football League team is not permitted to simultaneously issue both. Players who wear numbers from 50 to 79 are, by rule, prohibited from catching or touching forward passes if their team is in possession of the ball and may not line up in a position that allows them to do so, unless explicitly indicated to the referee during a tackle-eligible play. The number 0, long prohibited in American football, has been permitted in college football since 2020 and in the National Football League since the 2023 season. Certain numbers may only be worn by players in specific positions, thus assisting the officials in determining penalties.Īt all levels of football, each player dressed for a game must wear a unique number from 0 to 99. The numbers on the front and back are very large, covering most of the jersey. In American football, uniform numbers are displayed on both the front and back of the jersey, and in many cases the sleeves, shoulder pad, or occasionally helmets. Numbers on the uniform of American football playersĬornerback Dré Bly seen in 2007 with numbers visible on the front and shoulders of his uniform

Soccer football positions numbers