Changing the NFL jersey number rule could bring back some classic college football looks for Derrick Henry, Jalen Ramsey and others

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15:46 ET

  • Jeremy WillisESPN.com

NFL owners on Wednesday approved an amendment to the rule proposed by Kansas City chiefs who are weakening the shirt number rules. Get ready for many more players wearing single-digit T-shirts.

Currently running backs, receivers, defenders, tight ends and defensive backs must wear uniform numbers within a certain numerical range. The change means that all the great single-digit uniforms that only kickers, bettors and QBs can wear are now allowed for more than one player. It also means that uniform numbers will look much more like more faculties where there are no such regulations and anyone can wear almost any number.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, according to NFL rules, if a player wants to change his number this season, he should buy the existing inventory of shirt distributors. If he wants to announce his number change next season, he would not need to buy inventory.

The change would allow many of the top NFL players to return to the aspects they wore in college. If players want to change, here’s what it might look like:

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett

Number: 96 to 15?

Garrett, wearing No. 15 with Aggies, was a two-time All-America selection and had 47 career sacks before being No. 1 in the 2017 NFL Draft overall standings. career and was All-Pro in 2020.

Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry

Number: 22 to 2?

In 2015, Henry won the Heisman Trophy and led Alabama to a national title. In his last season with the Crimson Tide, Henry rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 scores. Tennessee drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft. Henry added another 2,000-yard rush season in 2020, when he was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Los Angeles Rams DB Jalen Ramsey

Number: 20 to 8?

Ramsey started out as a freshman and won the 2013 BCS national title while at Florida State. He was All-American in 2015, before being ranked 5th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. With the Jags, he reached the 2017 AFC Championship before going to the Rams. He is now the NFL’s highest paid defensive back.

New England Patriots DB Stephon Gilmore

Number: 24 to 5?

In South Carolina, Gilmore was a two-time All-SEC player, before being recruited by the Buffalo Bills in 2012. Gilmore moved to the Patriots in 2017 and has since won a Super Bowl, Defensive Player of the Year and he was an All-Pro twice.

Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

Number: 22 to 5?

At Stanford, he broke Barry Sanders’ college record for universal courts and represented nearly 7,000 total courts in his college career. He also holds the one-game Stanford record and the all-purpose Rose Bowl record. He was chosen in the first round by Carolina. With the Panthers, he had consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards in 2018 and 2019, before one ankle reduced his 2020 season.

Some players went on social media to discuss the number changes:

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