How NFL jersey numbers are assigned.

• Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers: 1-19
• Running backs: 20-49
• Wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89
• Tight ends: 10-19 and 80-89 (or 40-49 if those ranges are taken)
• Centers: 50-59 (or 60-79 if that range is taken)
• Offensive linemen: 60-79
• Defensive linemen: 60-79 and 90-99
• Linebackers: 50-59 and 90-99
• Defensive backs: 20-49

• There are general exceptions:
  • Prior to 2004, wide receivers and tight ends were restricted to 80-89.
  • Beginning in 2004, receivers were allowed to wear 10 through 19.
• There were some individual exceptions prior to 2004. For example:
  • Keyshawn Johnson --> wore 19 during his first Jets training camp because 80 through 89 were taken, and then kept wearing it when the season started, even though a number in the 80s had opened up.
  • Kelley Campbell --> another case of 80-89 being taken, in part because the Vikings had retired Cris Carter's and Alan Page's numbers.
• Sometimes players' number change. For example:
  • Jason Peters of the Bills was drafted as a tight end and initially wore No. 85. But then they converted him to a tackle and gave him No. 71.
  • Brian Bosworth wore No. 44 at Oklahoma and wanted to keep wearing it when he went pro. But 44 is off-limits for NFL linebackers, so when the Seahawks drafted Boz, they claimed they'd occasionally use him as a fullback. They got away with this at first, but the NFL soon put the kibosh on it, and Bosworth had to switch to No. 55.

Xelor said:

I had no idea what the NFL's jersey numbering system is, but in the back of my mind I knew there is one. Well here is what it's been since the early 1970s:

Basics:

• Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers: 1-19
• Running backs: 20-49
• Wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89
• Tight ends: 10-19 and 80-89 (or 40-49 if those ranges are taken)
• Centers: 50-59 (or 60-79 if that range is taken)
• Offensive linemen: 60-79
• Defensive linemen: 60-79 and 90-99
• Linebackers: 50-59 and 90-99
• Defensive backs: 20-49

Exceptions:

• There are general exceptions:
  • Prior to 2004, wide receivers and tight ends were restricted to 80-89.
  • Beginning in 2004, receivers were allowed to wear 10 through 19.
• There were some individual exceptions prior to 2004. For example:
  • Keyshawn Johnson --> wore 19 during his first Jets training camp because 80 through 89 were taken, and then kept wearing it when the season started, even though a number in the 80s had opened up.
  • Kelley Campbell --> another case of 80-89 being taken, in part because the Vikings had retired Cris Carter's and Alan Page's numbers.
• Sometimes players' number change. For example:
  • Jason Peters of the Bills was drafted as a tight end and initially wore No. 85. But then they converted him to a tackle and gave him No. 71.
  • Brian Bosworth wore No. 44 at Oklahoma and wanted to keep wearing it when he went pro. But 44 is off-limits for NFL linebackers, so when the Seahawks drafted Boz, they claimed they'd occasionally use him as a fullback. They got away with this at first, but the NFL soon put the kibosh on it, and Bosworth had to switch to No. 55.

Click to expand...

Xelor said:

I had no idea what the NFL's jersey numbering system is, but in the back of my mind I knew there is one. Well here is what it's been since the early 1970s:

Basics:

• Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers: 1-19
• Running backs: 20-49
• Wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89
• Tight ends: 10-19 and 80-89 (or 40-49 if those ranges are taken)
• Centers: 50-59 (or 60-79 if that range is taken)
• Offensive linemen: 60-79
• Defensive linemen: 60-79 and 90-99
• Linebackers: 50-59 and 90-99
• Defensive backs: 20-49

Exceptions:

• There are general exceptions:
  • Prior to 2004, wide receivers and tight ends were restricted to 80-89.
  • Beginning in 2004, receivers were allowed to wear 10 through 19.
• There were some individual exceptions prior to 2004. For example:
  • Keyshawn Johnson --> wore 19 during his first Jets training camp because 80 through 89 were taken, and then kept wearing it when the season started, even though a number in the 80s had opened up.
  • Kelley Campbell --> another case of 80-89 being taken, in part because the Vikings had retired Cris Carter's and Alan Page's numbers.
• Sometimes players' number change. For example:
  • Jason Peters of the Bills was drafted as a tight end and initially wore No. 85. But then they converted him to a tackle and gave him No. 71.
  • Brian Bosworth wore No. 44 at Oklahoma and wanted to keep wearing it when he went pro. But 44 is off-limits for NFL linebackers, so when the Seahawks drafted Boz, they claimed they'd occasionally use him as a fullback. They got away with this at first, but the NFL soon put the kibosh on it, and Bosworth had to switch to No. 55.

Click to expand...