NFL shirt number rule change could bring back some classic college football looks for Derrick Henry, Jalen Ramsey and others

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3:46 PM ET

  • Jeremy WillisESPN.com

The NFL owners on Wednesday approved a rule change proposed by the Kansas City Chiefs to ease jersey number rules. Prepare for a lot more players rocking single digit jerseys.

Currently, running backs, receivers, linebackers, tight ends and defensive backs must wear uniform numbers within a certain numerical range. The change means that all cool, single-digit uniforms that only kickers, punts and QBs can wear are now allowed on more players. It also means that uniform numbers will be much more like more universities where there are no such regulations and anyone can wear just about any number.

According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, according to NFL rules, if a player wants to change his number this season, he must buy out the existing stock of jersey distributors. If he wants to announce now that he wants to change his numbers next season, he doesn’t have to buy out inventory.

The change would make many of the NFL’s top players go back to the looks they wore in college. If the players want to change, they can look like this:

Cleveland Browns de Myles Garrett

Number: 96 to 15?

Garrett, who wore number 15 with the Aggies, was a two-time All-America roster and had 47 career sacks before being the # 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. With the Browns, Garrett has 42.5 career sacks and was an 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 wrote 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 real freshman, winning the national title from BCS in Florida State in 2013. He was an All-American in 2015 before being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars as No. 5 overall in 2016. With the Jags, he made it to the 2017 AFC Championship before joining 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 called up 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 is an All-Pro twice.

Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey

Number: 22 to 5?

At Stanford, Barry Sanders broke the collegiate record for universal yards, accounting for nearly 7,000 total yards in his college career. He also holds Stanford’s single-game rush record and the Rose Bowl all-purpose record. He was a first round pick by Carolina. With the Panthers, he had consecutive 1,000-meter rush seasons in 2018 and 2019 before a single shortened his ankle in 2020.

Some players took to social media to discuss song changes:

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