Football 101: Assigning Jersey Numbers

[Hostile]

There are technically 99 jersey numbers available in the NFL to each team, 1 through 99. Naturally retired numbers are not available. The Dallas Cowboys do not retire numbers. However, certain numbers are not likely to ever be issued again. 74 has only been worn by Bob Lilly, 12, 8, and 22 are not likely to be issued again any time soon if at all.

In NFL history there have been some players who wore 0 and some who wore 00. In 1973 the NFL standardized the numbering system and those numbers were eliminated from use.

Here is a simple list of how numbers are distributed in the NFL.

1-9...QBs, Ks, and Ps
10-19...QBs, WRs, K's, and Ps
20-39...RBs, CBs, and Ss
40-49...RBs, CBs, Ss, and TEs
50-59...OL, and LBs
60-79...OL and DL
80-89...WRs and TEs
90-99...DL and LBs

Here then by position are possible numbers.

QBs...1-19
RBs...20-49
WRs...10-19 and 81-89
TEs...40-49 and 81-89
OL....50-79
DL...60-79 and 91-99
LBs...50-59 and 91-99
CBs...20-49
Ss...20-49
Ks...1-19
Ps...1-19

 

[CoachHodnett]

I do not have any literature to back me up, and may be totally off, but I thought, if a team is out of 40s and 80s, then a Tight End could wear a 90 number?

 

[CowboyMike]

You just gave me a really good thread idea.

 

[jobberone]

I do not have any literature to back me up, and may be totally off, but I thought, if a team is out of 40s and 80s, then a Tight End could wear a 90 number?

I'm not certain but I think that is true.

 

[67CowboysFan]

I do not have any literature to back me up, and may be totally off, but I thought, if a team is out of 40s and 80s, then a Tight End could wear a 90 number?

I just read the rule and don't see an exception for TE's unless I'm misreading something. http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/index.nsf/Documents/0-jers-nums

 

[Wolfpack]

Used to be that only a Center could wear a 50's #. Guards and Tackles 60-79.

 

[Nav22]

I hate seeing a WR with a jersey # between 10-19. I wish the rule would change to only allow this if a # in the 80s is unavailable.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I hate to see players wear #0, .. it screams "look at me!"

I don't allow it on my teams.

- - - - - - - on another note - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In 1963, West Virginia's centennial year as a state, the kicker for the WVU Mountaineers, Chuck Kinder, wore #100.

It was kind of cool.

(that's right Hos, .. the kicker)

 

[ZeroClub]

I hate to see players wear #0, .. it screams "look at me!"

I don't allow it on my teams.

- - - - - - - on another note - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In 1963, West Virginia's centennial year as a state, the kicker for the WVU Mountaineers, Chuck Kinder, wore #100.

It was kind of cool.

(that's right Hos, .. the kicker)

Same thing with #1, I think. At least when worn by anyone other than a kicker/punter.

Not sure why, but Kenny Burroughs' #00 never bothered me.

 

[Hostile]

Same thing with #1, I think. At least when worn by anyone other than a kicker/punter.

Not sure why, but Kenny Burroughs' #00 never bothered me.

The 00 that I thought was right was Jim Otto. 00 is "aught oh."

 

[pancakeman]

Who do you think is the best wide receiver ever to play with a number in the teens?

Maybe Charlie Joiner or Lance Alworth?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

A player/position wearing a specific number does not bother me.

I don't care if a WR is wearing this number or that.

Seems kind of trivial to me.

The only time a jersey number might bother me is if it is a number that should have been retired but has not and you see some average joe getting assigned the number.

 

[Hostile]

A player/position wearing a specific number does not bother me.

I don't care if a WR is wearing this number or that.

Seems kind of trivial to me.

The only time a jersey number might bother me is if it is a number that should have been retired but has not and you see some average joe getting assigned the number.

We all hope to grow up as tolerant of everything as you BP.









Okay, so I really don't.

:wink2:

 

[ZeroClub]

Who do you think is the best wide receiver ever to play with a number in the teens?

Maybe Charlie Joiner or Lance Alworth?

Like Joiner and Alworth, Don Maynard is also in the Hall of Fame and had a "teen jersey".

I'd go with Alworth.

There are at least three Hall of Fame WRs who wore jersey numbers in the 40's. It might make an interesting trivia question....

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

We all hope to grow up as tolerant of everything as you BP.









Okay, so I really don't.

:wink2:

:laugh2: Some things I just don't care about. Other things chap my backside pretty quick.

I guess I just pick and choose.

Maybe that makes me undiagnosed Bi-Polar.

 

[realtick]

I personally don't like the NFL rules on jersey numbers. I like the way college football does it.

 

[Hostile]

By the way, just felt this was an interesting bit of trivia. Tom Landry did not like numbers in the 90's at all. It wasn't until Kevin Brooks in 1985 that he even allowed a number in the 90's Brooks wore #99.

 

[Nav22]

Like Joiner and Alworth, Don Maynard is also in the Hall of Fame and had a "teen jersey".

I'd go with Alworth.

There are at least three Hall of Fame WRs who wore jersey numbers in the 40's. It might make an interesting trivia question....

Sorry, old timers ... but Larry Fitzgerald has these guys beat.

 

[SnakePliskin]

Sorry, old timers ... but Larry Fitzgerald has these guys beat.

I would still say Alworth. Fitzty will still have to be great for a few more years.

Not a Hall of Famer but Harold Carmichael is a WR with a # in the "teens" that used to give us a lot of trouble. What was he 6-7 or something?!?