Your favorite Packers player could soon be wearing a new number.
NFL owners on Wednesday passed a rule that will allow skill position players like defensive backs and running backs to wear numbers in the single digits and teens, making the game look aesthetically more similar to college football.
Here are the new number ranges, per the new rule:
Defensive backs: 1-49 (previously 20-49)
Running backs: 1-49, 80-90 (previously 20-49)
Wide Receivers: 1-49, 80-90 (previously 10-19, 80-89)
Tight ends: 1-49, 80-90 (previously 40-49, 80-89)
Linebackers: 1-59, 90-99 (previously 40-59, 90-99)
The number ranges for quarterbacks, offensive and defensive linemen, kickers and punters will remain the same.
Veterans are unlikely to change their numbers before the 2021 season, however. Per the NFL's rules, the deadline for a player to change his number has passed. If a player were to change his number for the 2021 season, he would be responsible for buying out the entire inventory of his jerseys, a move that would cost big bucks for some players.
However, players could indicate their desire to change their number now and be eligible to do so for the 2022 season.
Some Packers who could make number changes:
— Brandon Kinnard (@brandonkinnard) April 21, 2021
AJ Dillon wore No. 2 at BC, but Crosby has it now.
Robert Tonyan wore No. 18 at Indiana State.
Savage & Amos both wore No. 4 in college. But... well, you know.
Jaire wore 10 at Louisville. Love has that now, 23 is cooler anyway. https://t.co/SK7ZPsWRu1 pic.twitter.com/lL0LVVcmkl
A.J. Dillon, Robert Tonyan, Darnell Savage, Adrian Amos and Jaire Alexander are a few Green Bay Packers players who could be in the market to change their numbers.
Dillon wore No. 2 at Boston College, but that number is currently occupied by Mason Crosby. Tonyan wore No. 18 as a wide receiver at Indiana State. That number is currently available.
Savage and Amos both wore No. 4 in college. That number is retired (Brett Favre). Alexander's college number, 10, is currently worn by Jordan Love.
While the new change has many fans and players excited, the Packers don't have many numbers to go around in the single digits and teens. Currently, there is only one single digit number (No. 8) available and only three teen numbers available (No. 13, No. 16 and No. 18).
Green Bay has six retired numbers, four of which are in the single digits and teens: No. 3 (Tony Canadeo), No. 4 (Brett Favre), No. 14 (Don Hutson) and No. 15 (Bart Starr).
Additionally, No. 12 will one day be retired for Aaron Rodgers and No. 1 and No. 5, while not officially retired, are considered semi-retired and have not been worn since their original owner's (Curly Lambeau, 1, and Paul Hornung, 5,) donned them. No. 10 (Jordan Love) and No. 17 (Davante Adams) figure to be taken for years to come, as well.
Blocking out three additional spots for quarterbacks and two more for a kicker and punter, that leaves only five jersey numbers from 1-19 available at any given time.
Still, given the number of skill position players who wear single digit numbers in college football, it seems like only a matter of time before it happens in Green Bay.
