At a league meeting last offseason, NFL team owners voted in favor of a rule that would allow single-digit numbers to be worn by more players than just quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. The intended effect, per the proposal, would be that it “expands jersey number options for certain positions.” The stated reason for the desired change is “flexibility in assigning jersey numbers.”
Personally, I love seeing defensive linemen or bigger linebackers in a single-digit jersey — big men in little numbers. And a couple of Falcons have already taken full advantage of the rule change that applies to defensive backs, linebackers, running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers, who are all allowed to wear single-digit numbers now. Defensive backs and linebackers could wear any number from 1 to 49, while running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, H-backs, and wide receivers could all wear 1 to 49 and 80 to 89.
Kyle Pitts chose #8, Mykal Walker switched to #3, and now, some free agent signings are having fun with the new rules. The Falcons have made more than a dozen notable free-agent signings this offseason. Here are their jersey numbers, per the team’s website:
- CB Casey Hayward #29
- S/CB Teez Tabor #30
- OL Elijah Wilkinson #79
- RB Damien Williams #6
- OLB Lorenzo Carter #9
- QB Marcus Mariota #1
- WR KhaDarel Hodge #12
- WR Auden Tate #19
- S Dean Marlowe #21
- WR Damiere Byrd (TBD)
- LS Beau Brinkley #44
- LB Rashaan Evans (TBD)
- T Germain Ifedi (TBD)
- CB Mike Ford (TBD)
- TE Anthony Firkser (TBD)
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