Multiple players are intrigued by single-digit number proposal

Posted by Mike Florio on April 1, 2021, 7:35 PM EDT
New Orleans Saints Mini Camp
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Reggie Bush was 15 years ahead of his time.

Back in 2006, marketing agent Mike Ornstein lobbied aggressively for the NFL to change its No Fun League approach to numerology, adjusting the rules so that Bush could wear No. 5 as a pro. It didn’t work.

This year, it could. With the Chiefs proposing a change that would allow running backs, tight ends, receivers, linebackers, and defensive backs to wear single-digit numbers, NFL games could look very different, if at least 23 teams agree with Kansas City.

It’s likely a tall order, especially since it’s coming out of the blue — and since the NFL isn’t exactly known for embracing change. Multiple players, reacting to our prior story regarding the proposal, have made their endorsement of the change clear.

Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette said to the team, “I need number 7 thank you.”

Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray, who wore No. 9 at Oklahoma, said, “Need this ASAP!!! K9 is back!!!!” Chargers safety Derwin James, who wore No. 3 at Florida State, said it has to be an April Fool’s Day joke. (It isn’t.) Meanwhile, Chargers cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said he’s fine with 25.

Other players didn’t like the idea of single digits being limited to certain players. Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Jr., using an excellent GIF of the great Fred Sanford, said that “I feel like OL should get first dibs on single digit numbers.”

Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill wants to take it a step farther; he wants 00. (Former Oilers receiver Ken Burrough wore 00 from 1971 through 1981.)

There’s no reason for the league’s rules to be so restrictive wen it comes to jersey numbers. As long as ineligible players on offense wear ineligible numbers, it doesn’t matter what players on defense or at eligible offense positions wear.

So open it up. It’s been nearly 20 years since the NFL made the then-revolutionary step to let receivers wear numbers from 10 to 19. Embrace single digits. Let eligible offensive players wear any number from 1 to 49 and 80 to 89. Let defensive players wear any number they choose.

And, yes, bring back 00.

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18 responses to “Multiple players are intrigued by single-digit number proposal”

  1. I’ll never forget number 5 being worn by the great Harmon Wages of the Atlanta Falcons.

  4. No thanks. Whoever restricted numbers to positions was the brilliant one. Easier to watch.

  5. Only thing I don’t like is forcing linebackers to change to 1-49 or 90-99. It would be weird to see no linebackers in the 50s.

  8. Embrace single digits. Let eligible offensive players wear any number from 1 to 49 and 80 to 89. Let defensive players wear any number they choose.

    And, yes, bring back 00.
    __________________

    I couldn’t agree more

  10. Why does the NFL even give a hoot what numbers people wear? If anything, it would sell more jerseys if guys switched to new non-traditional numbers.

  11. Separating position groups based on uniform numbers makes the game clearer to fans, reporters and officials. I like seeing a player with the ball and knowing their position. It helps put the plays in context compared to a random 2 running with the ball.

  12. The NFL does not embrace change? Which League has made more changes yto their game than the NFL in just the last 5 years alone?

    Just because they dont adopt every single proposal does not mean they don’t embrace change.

  14. Why don’t they fix the stupid helmet rule first? We want our Bucco Bruce throwback game back and there’s absolutely no proof that changing helmets makes the game unsafe. Some college teams switch helmets every week.

  16. What about triple digits? No reason to limit it to the organized system that it is today. College can be inherently confusing to watch because of the lack of organization when it comes to what position wears what numbers. College allows multiple players to wear the same number too, should the NFL do that too? It’s all about the $ and if the NFL can make another penny doing it, they will.

  17. godnollid16 says:

    “Separating position groups based on uniform numbers makes the game clearer to fans, reporters and officials. I like seeing a player with the ball and knowing their position. It helps put the plays in context compared to a random 2 running with the ball.”

    I’ll just repost this comment, since I couldn’t have said it better. (Ok, I’ll add one more thing: It’s a team sport; a position group sport. Enough me, me, me already.

  18. At first I didnt like it but thinking back on the old night train lane videos and seeing 81 flying all over the field changed my mind

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