While some are obvious (no intent to injure, of course), others are pretty surprising (lots of uniform rules).
Since its inception in 1920, watching football has been one of America's favorite pastimes—but even the biggest fans of the game might be surprised by how many rules players have to follow. In fact, the NFL has often been called the "No Fun League." A few rules pertaining to safety are obvious and necessary, while others—more focused on the league's image—have been deemed unnecessary and over-the-top by viewers and commentators. From uniform codes and touchdown celebration crackdowns to practice schedule expectations, pretty much everything you see on (and in some cases, off) the field is heavily regulated. The moment kickoff happens, refs are monitoring every move closely to ensure players are abiding by the regulations. Here are just some of the rules you probably didn't know football players have to follow.
They must follow a strict dress code.
Getting dressed for game day isn't as simple as you might think. As it turns out, the NFL has several uniform rules.
They don't get to choose just any jersey number.
Numbers are assigned based on a player's position—unlike other sports, where players have the ability to choose what number they wear. For example, if you're the quarterback, you can only choose a number between 1 and 19.
Jerseys must be tucked in on the field.
"A player's appearance on the field conveys a message regarding the image of the league and directly affects the league's reputation and success," the NFL's Game Operations Manual states.
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They have to wear their pants just right.
The official rule from the NFL states that players must wear pants that cover the entire knee area.
And their stockings have specifications, too.
According to the official uniform policy statement, "Stockings must be white from the top of the shoe to midcalf and an approved team color from midcalf to the bottom of the pant leg, which must be pulled down below the knee."
Towels can only be tucked into the front of the waist.
And they can only use the towel specially issued by the NFL—no personal messages, logos, or names are allowed on it.
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Only some headwear can be worn during a game.
Aside from helmets and headbands to keep sweat and hair back, players aren't allowed to don a bandana during a game, even if it's under the helmet.
They can't leapfrog during the game.
This rule is definitely a weird one, but it's in place with player safety in mind.
They can wear designs on their shoes—but only during warmup.
That said, the NFL has some guidelines around the designs—no trademarks, nothing offensive, etc.
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However, there's an exception.
During Week 13 games in 2022, players supported a charity of their choice on the field through the My Cause My Cleats campaign.
They can't wear personal messages on their bodies during a game.
This rule came to light when DeAngelo Williams walked on the field in 2015 and honored his mother, a breast cancer survivor, with the message "find the cure" on his eye blacks. While the gesture was for a good cause, the league slapped him with a fine just shy of $6,000 for breaking this rule.
But entire teams can make a social or political statement together.
Restrictions still apply though. When players wanted to support the Black Lives Matter movement during the 2020-2021 season, the league allowed them to use one of four pre-approved phrases on their helmets/caps.
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All accessories must be pre-approved too.
Apparently, "there are no rules prohibiting jewelry—but the league policy does prohibit 'hard objects.'" That's why Odell Beckham Jr.'s watch was a problem in 2019.
They can't skip meetings without permission.
There's only one good reason a player has for missing a meeting, and that's if he's sick, hurt, and/or a doctor signs off on it. If not, it could result in a fine.
They can't miss official team practices.
If players end up oversleeping and missing practice, they could face a steep fine.
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That includes preseason training camp.
Non-rookies can be fined $50,000 for every day missed, while rookies can be hit with a $40,000 fine per day.
Skipping preseason games can also result in hefty fines.
For every preseason game missed, a player is penalized the amount of one week's salary (which is 1/18th of the season's earnings).
Players can usually give balls to fans.
When a ball is no longer needed for the game, it's allowed to be given away. Many players seem to enjoy the opportunity to give lucky fans a memory they'll never forget.
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But they have to do so in a safe way.
Players must hand the ball to one fan. They can't randomly throw or kick it into the crowd, as that could potentially lead to fights in the stands. Doing this can result in a $7,210 fine for a first offense and $12,360 for a second offense.
They can't spin footballs in the air after a touchdown.
The reason for this? It could be viewed as disrespectful towards the opposing team—resulting in a "taunting penalty." The consequence could be a fine or a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
