Should The NFL Unretire Jersey Numbers?

Abdul Carter, the third overall pick in this year’s draft

Getting your jersey retired by a team is one of the highest honors an athlete can receive. Basically, the team is saying you’re so one of one that you’ll never be replaced. It’s a huge honor in the sports world.

But, is it time to reflect on jersey retirements? Questions have been raised this year by the Giants newest rookie, Abdul Carter, the imposing linebacker out of Penn State. Carter, the third overall pick, looked to multiple Giants greats, hoping to wear their numbers for his debut season this year, similarly to how last year’s Giants rookie, Malik Nabers, wore number 1, previously retired for Ray Flaherty. Carter was turned down by multiple legends, and ended up choosing his own number, 51. He was graceful about the situation, and tensions never arose, but still, questions have been raised.

In total, the NFL has retired 163 numbers, with teams such as the Chicago Bears and New York Giants leading the charge, with 14 each. Now, 14 out of 100 possible numbers doesn’t seem like many, until you look at jersey culture throughout the league.

Jersey Number Culture

Tom Brady, the most recent legend to have his number retired.

Certain numbers are meant for certain positions in football. That’s the way it’s always been, and probably always will be. In fact, its in the rules. The numbers are divvied up per position, as follows:

Quarterback: 0-19
Defensive Backs: 0-49
Running Backs (FBs and HBs), Wide Receivers, Tight Ends: 0-49 and 80-89
Offensive Linemen: 50-79
Punters and Place Kickers: 0-49 and 90-99
Defensive Linemen: 50-79 and 90-99
Linebackers: 0-59 and 90-99

It’s still a lot of numbers, but significantly less. At some point, players are going to be extremely limited in their choices, especially due to the magnitude of NFL rosters. Plus, what if a jersey number is special to a player? There’s a personal aspect to be considered as well. So what is the right way to deal with this? Is it disrespectful to unretire numbers? Or is it necessary?

The Argument Against It

Lawrence Taylor, one of the greatest football players ever, denied Carter’s request to wear number 56

The biggest argument against unretiring numbers is that it disturbs tradition. The number is retired for a reason, and to let a new person take that number does take away from some of that value. When someone is as great as Lawrence Taylor, should someone new, especially a rookie who hasn’t carved out a place in the league yet, be allowed to take that number?

Plus, can just anyone take a retired player’s number? Sure, Carter looks like a great prospect, and I personally believe he’s going to be huge for the Giants this season, but anything can happen in sports. It would seem slightly ridiculous to hand off a retired number to a player who ends up being a bust.

The real question becomes, is it worth leaving behind a part of the team’s history in exchange for one player to wear the jersey they want? If we’re looking from a tradition standpoint, no. The players did earn that jersey retirement, and they should certainly not be left out if the jersey is brought back.

The Argument For It

Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who had a great rookie season wearing the previously retired number 1.

At some point, jersey retirement does become somewhat excessive. There are so many football players on a team, can numbers really be held back, if it limits the freedom of the players now? Plus, the amount of retired numbers is only going to grow, and how long do we let it grow before teams really do run out of numbers?

In some cases, like with Nabers and Flaherty, the player with the retired number (or their family), could give it up to the newer player, in an act of kindness and generosity, but how often will that really happen? Plus, if the available numbers start to dwindle, what happens to the bench players? Nabers, a top tier pick who ended up being a great rookie, has a lot more swing than a late draft pick, someone taken in the fifth to seventh rounds, and maybe even earlier than that. Do they just not get to choose a number?

There are a couple main arguments for unretiring numbers. The future is a big factor. When do we start planning for the time when jersey numbers run slim? Now? Or do we wait until it becomes an even bigger issue?

My Solution

Walter Payton, one of the Bears’ many retired numbers.

This is certainly an issue for the NFL. With so many numbers retired, and many more on the way, how do they address this? Here’s my plan.

Firstly, they should try and avoid players using retired numbers if they can. If possible, players should take other numbers, ones that aren’t taken by a previous all time great, and make their own legacy.

Obviously, though, this isn’t going to happen every time. If a player does want a jersey number, they have to report why they want this number to the team. Whatever their reason may be, the team decides how viable that reason is. If the team rules against them, the request is vetoed and the player must choose another number. These first two steps at least make an effort to keep players from taking too many retired numbers.

If the request for the number is approved, there is another step the player must go. On their helmet or jersey (that would be for the team to decide), they must have a patch or emblem that respects the player that originally retired that number. This could be designed by the retired player themselves, their family, the team, really whoever. This gives a nod to the history of the number and assures that even though the number is back in play, the meaning of that number and the player who worked so hard to achieve that honor do not go unnoticed.

Finally, the teams have to put in effort to honor their past and the players who wore those retired numbers. Whether that be through a hall of fame, statue, or some sort of exhibit, the history of these numbers cannot be lost, and the all time legends of these teams should be respected.

It might not be a perfect solution, but it is the best I’ve got. I tried to make a balance of practicality and respect of history, but this is a seriously complicated issue that should be addressed somehow.

The Future

Green Bay Packers retired numbers

The talent in the league is only growing. A whole new waves of greats is emerging, and will continue to emerge for years and years. It’s great for the NFL, and for teams, but for jersey numbers, it presents an issue.

Somehow, this issue is going to have to be addressed, and it raises questions about other sports leagues. The Los Angeles Lakers have 14 retired numbers. The New York Yankees have 22. The Boston Celtics have 25. Sure, these teams have less players, but the Celtics have retired about 25% of all available jersey numbers, and players such as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown may be well on their way. At what point do sports teams take a look at the custom of retiring numbers and reevaluate an age old tradition? They can’t get rid of it entirely, but it may need to be adapted.