Is the number 00 banned in the NFL?

Yes, the number 00 is still banned in the NFL, even though the league recently allowed players to wear single-digit zero (No. 0) for the first time in decades; 00 remains prohibited for all players, while No. 0 is available for most positions (excluding linemen). Historically, Hall of Famer Jim Otto and a couple of others wore 00 before it was banned in 1973, and the league hasn't approved its return, unlike the single zero.

Can you wear 00 in the NFL?

Notable players who switched to number 0 include running back D'Andre Swift of the Philadelphia Eagles, wide receiver Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. In all, 12 players chose to don number 0 in 2023. The number 00 remains prohibited.

Why is 00 prohibited in the NFL?

The NFL banned numbers 0 and 00 primarily due to its 1973 jersey number standardization, which created position-specific numbering, making 0 and 00 ineligible for assignment, though exceptions existed, like Hall of Famer Jim Otto (00) who was grandfathered in; while single 0 was allowed back for most players in 2023, 00 remains banned, largely for clarity and tradition in officiating, as unique numbers help identify players for penalty calls.
 

Is the number zero banned in the NFL?

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.

What numbers are illegal in the NFL?

50-79 and 90-99 are ineligible offensive numbers in the NFL (90-99 is legal in college and HS). Eligible numbers are 1-49 and 80-89 in the NFL (0-49 and 80-99 in college). No one seems to be struggling with this either.

HISTORY LESSON | "HISTORY OF THE NUMBER 0 IN THE NFL"

What NFL player wore 00?

NFL H.O.F. Class of 1980 NFL 100 ALL-TIME Team When the Raiders took the field for the first time in 1960, Jim Otto took the field with them at the center position. Drafted in the '60 draft, Otto, initially wore the number 50, but he switched to 00 in his second season, and wore it until his retirement in 1974.

Is 0 a legal number in football?

At all levels of football, each player dressed for a game must wear a unique number from 0 to 99. The number 0, long prohibited in American football, has been permitted in college football since 2020 and in the National Football League since the 2023 season.

Has a QB ever worn number 0?

Marcus Mariota (2015-Present)

Leading into the 2025 season, Marcus Mariota is the only quarterback to wear No. 0 in an NFL game. As a result, Mariota is the greatest NFL quarterback to ever wear the No. 0.

Why did Jim Otto wear 00?

Otto wore the jersey number 50 in his rookie season, but the suggestion of equipment manager Frank Hinek led to the idea of Otto wearing 00 (0 was being worn in the NFL by Johnny Olszewski) "for recognition", which Otto eventually went with, as did AFL Commissioner Joe Foss.

Is 00 retired in the NFL?

The league also banned the use of No. 0 or No. 00 in 1973, though only three players in NFL history had worn each of them. The last was Raiders Hall of Fame center Jim Otto, who was allowed to continue wearing the number that spherically matched the letters at both ends of his last name.

Why do QBs say blue 42?

Quarterbacks say "Blue 42" (or similar color/number combos like "Blue 80") as a pre-snap cadence, a rhythmic call to signal the snap, often as an audible to change the play based on the defense, or sometimes just as a standard, meaningless phrase to confuse the defense, with the color sometimes indicating a live play change and the numbers specifying routes, though the exact meaning varies by team and situation. It's a code for the offense to react, whether to run the original play, change it, or draw the defense offsides. 

Why does tyreek hill wear number 10?

🗣️ Tyreek Hill on why he wears the #10 jersey: “I wear it because of my grandmother, it was the number she wore when she played basketball in the '50s. She is one of my great inspirations… she has also helped me become the person I am now." #FinsUp.

Can you wear 69 in football?

Yes, you can have the number 69 in football (American football), especially in the NFL and NCAA, as players can generally wear numbers 0-99, but historically, it's often worn by offensive linemen (guards, tackles, centers), defensive linemen, and linebackers, though rules have expanded to allow more flexibility for other positions, making it available for almost anyone, including players like the famous defensive end Jared Allen.
 

What number can you not wear in the NFL?

The number 00 is the only number still banned in the NFL, while 0 was banned for decades but returned for most positions in 2023; however, offensive and defensive linemen are still excluded from wearing No. 0. The league has relaxed its rules, allowing more flexibility, but linemen (50-79) remain ineligible to catch passes unless they report as eligible.
 

What QB wears 0?

The most prominent quarterback wearing No. 0 currently is Zach Wilson for the Miami Dolphins, making history as the first in modern NFL. Other QBs like Marcus Mariota (with the Commanders) also wore No. 0 in preseason before switching, with Wilson aiming to be the first to wear it in regular season NFL play since the number became available again in 2023. 

What's the rarest number in the NFL?

The rarest number in the NFL is Double Zero (00), which hasn't been seen since 1981 and remains prohibited, while Single Zero (0) was rare but returned in 2023 for most positions (excluding linemen) after being banned for decades, making it a popular, newly available choice for many players like Calvin Ridley and D'Andre Swift. 

What number is not allowed in the NFL?

The number 00 is the only number still banned in the NFL, while 0 was banned for decades but returned for most positions in 2023; however, offensive and defensive linemen are still excluded from wearing No. 0. The league has relaxed its rules, allowing more flexibility, but linemen (50-79) remain ineligible to catch passes unless they report as eligible.
 

Is zero a fake number?

And the number zero - which is simply a mathematical construct that is used to in some sense refer to the idea of nothingness - definitely also exists. It's also very easy to have zero of something.

Why do tight ends wear 87?

Jersey numbers

The NCAA "strongly recommends" ends wear 80–99, but this is not required. In the NFL, numbering has changed in 2021, which allows them to wear numbers 0-49 and 80–89. The 0–49 number range is a relatively recent addition to the rules; as a result, most tight ends still bear numbers in the 80–89 range.

Who wears #0 in the NFL?

Many NFL players wear number 0, a number reinstated in 2023 for most positions (except linemen), with popular wearers including Calvin Ridley, Roquan Smith, Brian Burns, D'Andre Swift, and rookies like Keon Coleman, as it offers players a fresh start or cool aesthetic, following college football's trend.
 

Do any NFL QBs wear 0?

Yes, quarterbacks have worn the number 0 in the NFL since the league changed its rules to allow it in 2023, with Marcus Mariota becoming the first in 2024 for the Washington Commanders, followed by Zach Wilson with the Miami Dolphins in 2025, marking a significant shift in jersey numbers for the position.
 

Who is the best player to wear number 0?

Best player to wear each jersey number: 0: Russell Westbrook 10: Walt Frazier 20: Gary Payton 30: Stephen Curry 40: Shawn Kemp 50: David Robinson 70: Dennis Rodman 90: Drew Gooden The rest 👇

Does the NFL retire numbers?

While most NFL teams have retired numbers, six NFL teams (the Cowboys, Raiders, Falcons, Texans, Ravens and Saints) do not despite having several former players who are certainly deserving of the honor. New Orleans had two retired numbers, but those numbers were unretired following an ownership change.