Clubs voted on a series of playing rule, bylaw, and resolution proposals this week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
The first proposal allowed for more flexibility in assigning jersey numbers – and it passed. Except for offensive and defensive linemen, players can now wear the number zero. It follows in the path of college football, where the number was first allowed in 2020.
Additionally, kickers and punters cam now use any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99. Below are the new rules for jersey numbers:
- Quarterbacks, punters, placekickers: 0-19;
- Punters, placekickers: 0-49 and 90-99
- Defensive backs: 0-49;
- Running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, H-backs, wide receivers: 0-49 and 80-89;
- Offensive linemen: 50-79;
- Defensive linemen: 50-79 and 90-99;
- Linebackers: 0-59 and 90-99
Check out the evolution of the New York Giants' uniforms through the years.
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1927 New York Giants team photo (Pro Football Hall of Fame via AP Images)
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New York Giants' center Mel Hein is seen Oct. 11, 1945, in New York. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
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RB Ward Cuff is shown in this 1945 photo. (AP Photo)
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Kyle Rote, halfback for the New York Giants Oct. 24, 1951 at the Polo Grounds in New York. (AP Photo)
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Arnie Weinmeister, New York Giant tackle, during workout at the Polo Grounds in New York City in 1952. (AP Photo/Ray Howard)
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This Dec. 11, 1956 file photo shows Andy Robustelli (81), an end for the New York Giants. (AP Photo/File)
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Frank Gifford heads upfield during an NFL game on Nov. 3, 1957 (AP Photo/NFL Photos/Vernon Biever)
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New York Giants halfback Frank Gifford, shown at a workout on Sept. 9, 1958 in New York. (AP Photo/Rooney)
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Photo shows Dick Nolan, half back for the New York Giants on Sept. 17, 1960. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
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Y.A. Tittle after leading Giants to stunning 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 12, 1961. (AP Photo/John Lindsay)
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In this Sept. 3, 1963, file photo, New York Giants running back Alex Webster poses at the team's NFL training camp in Fairfield, Conn. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
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New York Giants QB Fran Tarkenton, Nov. 5, 1967 (AP Photo.Robert Walsh, File)
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Fran Tarkenton, quarterback, New York Giants, (10) flanked by left Joe Morrison, and Joe Koontz (47) right, in 1968. (AP Photo)
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Linebacker Pat Hughes watches play in 1972. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
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Carl "Spider" Lockhart poses for a photo during training camp in Fairfield, Ct., 1974. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
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RB Doug Kotar and Joe Dawkins clutch hands during an NFL game against the Green Bay Packers, Nov. 23, 1975. (AP Photo/Vernon Biever)
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New York Giants linebacker Brad Van Pelt (10) during a 24 to 10 Giants win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 26, 1976 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/NFL Photos)
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Hall of Fame RB Larry Csonka watches from the sideline against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 26, 1976. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
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QB Phil Simms throws a pass during the NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson (53) looks on during the NFL football game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 22, 1985 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 27-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms is seen in action, 1984. (AP Photo)
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Lawrence Taylor is congregated by Mark Collins and Carl Banks after his interception and touchdown run on a Joe Montana pass on Sunday, Jan. 4, 1986 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
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New York Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) catches a pregame pass during the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12, 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 35-3. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Mark Collins watches pre-game warm-ups before the 1986 NFC Championship NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Jan. 11, 1987. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
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Phil Simms vs. San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park Monday, November 27, 1989. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
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Giants running back Ottis Anderson (24) on Monday, December 3, 1990. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
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Jeff Hostetler celebrates after throwing a first quarter touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears at Giants Stadium, Jan. 13, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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Jessie Armstead (98) during a game from his 1993 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
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New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor (56) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jim McMahon Jan. 9, 1994 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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Rodney Hampton during a game from his 1995 season with the New York Giants. (David Durochik via AP)
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Phillippi Sparkes holds his second interception of the night with teammates Tito Wooten (29) and Corey Widmer (90) during overtime against the Washington Redskins, Nov. 23, 1997. (AP/Doug Mills)
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Keith Hamilton against the Oakland Raiders on September 13, 1998 in Oakland. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
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Amani Toomer celebrates after catching a 17 yard touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 5, 2000 (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
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Cedrick Jones (94) and Thabiti Davis (82) celebrate their 17-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2000. With the win the Giants are NFC East champions. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)
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Kerry Collins sets to pass against the St. Louis Rams during their football game in St. Louis Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
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Eli Manning (10) throws a pass during the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Tiki Barber breaks through the Oakland Raiders' defense on his way to 95-yard rushing touchdown in the first half of NFL football on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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Michael Strahan celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe during the third quarter Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 at Giants Stadium (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Lawrence Tynes celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime during the NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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New York Giants QB Eli Manning (10) celebrates after his 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game against the New England Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck (91) looks on before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Bill Kostroun
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The Giants introduce their alternative uniforms with white pants vs. the Raiders November 10th, 2013
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David Diehl (66) blocks during a week 10 football game against the Oakland Raiders on November 10, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
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Sterling Shepard (87) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Saquon Barkley scores a 1st quarter touchdown during a week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 23, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
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Saquon Barkley hurdles Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins (27) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence react during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
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Matthew Swensen/New York Football Giants
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Azeez Ojulari (51) Jason Pinnock (27)
De'Andre Henderson/New York Giants
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Daniel Jones (8)
Matt Swensen/New York Football Giants
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New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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Azeez Ojulari (51)
De'Andre Henderson/New York Giants
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Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) Azeez Ojulari (51)
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Darius Slayton
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New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Jerry Pinkus/ New York Giants)
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Graham Gano (9)
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Isaiah Hodgins (18)
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Darius Slayton (86)
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Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley
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Jihad Ward (55)
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Dexter Lawrence (97)
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Daniel Jones (8)
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Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)
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Darius Slayton (86), Daniel Jones (8)
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Below is the full list of approved changes:
2023 Approved Playing Rules Summary
By Philadelphia; amends Rule 5, Section 1, Article 2, to permit the use of zero ("0") as a jersey numeral; to allow kickers and punters to use any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99.
By Los Angeles Chargers; amends Rule 4, Section 6, Article 3 and Section 7, Article 4, to make the adjustment of the play clock following an Instant Replay reversal consistent with other timing rules.
By Houston; amends Rule 15, Section 1, Article 2, to expand the Replay Official's jurisdiction to allow for review on failed fourth down attempts.
By Competition Committee; to change the definition of a launch to leaving one or both feet.
By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for tripping a personal foul.
By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for illegally handing the ball forward consistent with other illegal acts, such as illegal forward passes.
By Competition Committee; to make the penalty for illegal punts, drop kicks, or placekicks consistent with other illegal acts, such as illegal forward passes.
By Competition Committee; to prevent the offense from benefitting by an extension of the half as a result of their foul.
By Competition Committee; to clarify use of the helmet against an opponent by removing the "butt, ram, spear" language from Article 8 and incorporating those actions into Impermissible Use of the Helmet.
2023 Approved Bylaws Summary
By Competition Committee; to change the claiming period to Monday for players who are waived on the Friday and Saturday of the last week of the regular season.
By Competition Committee; to insert Strength of Victory as the second tiebreaker for awarding contracts.
By Competition Committee; to adjust the rules for postseason signings to account for standard elevations rule; to freeze postseason rosters at 4:00 PM New York Time on the Wednesday following the last week of the regular season.
2023 Approved Resolutions Summary
G-2. By Buffalo; to make the regular season and postseason roster transaction deadlines the same; changes the transaction deadline for Saturday night postseason games to 4:00 p.m., New York time on Saturday.
G-3. By Los Angeles Chargers; to provide greater clarity as to a player's availability for a game.
G-4. By New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New York Jets, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington; to establish one preseason roster reduction date and related procedures.
I'm a passionate NFL enthusiast with a deep understanding of the game, its rules, and its evolving dynamics. My knowledge spans from historical aspects to the latest rule changes. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the recent rule proposals at the NFL Annual Meeting:
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Jersey Number Flexibility:
- The NFL approved a proposal for more flexibility in assigning jersey numbers.
- Players, except for offensive and defensive linemen, can now wear the number zero.
- Kickers and punters have expanded options, allowing any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99.
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New Rules for Jersey Numbers:
- Quarterbacks, punters, and placekickers: 0-19.
- Punters and placekickers: 0-49 and 90-99.
- Defensive backs: 0-49.
- Running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, H-backs, wide receivers: 0-49 and 80-89.
- Offensive linemen: 50-79.
- Defensive linemen: 50-79 and 90-99.
- Linebackers: 0-59 and 90-99.
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Approved Playing Rules:
- Use of zero ("0") as a jersey numeral is now permitted.
- Kickers and punters can use any jersey numeral between 0-49 and 90-99.
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Approved Bylaws:
- Claiming period for waived players on Friday and Saturday of the last week of the regular season changed to Monday.
- Strength of Victory is inserted as the second tiebreaker for awarding contracts.
- Adjustment of rules for postseason signings to account for standard elevations rule.
- Postseason rosters frozen at 4:00 PM New York Time on the Wednesday following the last week of the regular season.
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Approved Resolutions:
- Roster transaction deadlines for the regular season and postseason aligned.
- Greater clarity provided regarding a player's availability for a game.
- One preseason roster reduction date and related procedures established.
These changes aim to bring more flexibility to player jersey numbers, align transaction deadlines, and enhance clarity in various aspects of the game. It's part of the ongoing efforts to adapt and refine the NFL's rules and regulations. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like to explore further, feel free to ask!
