Skip to content

LEAGUES News

Brady: New jersey rule will 'make for a lot of bad football'

Icon Sportswire / Getty

Tom Brady isn't a fan of the NFL's new jersey rule.

The league approved a change Wednesday to allow players at certain positions to wear new numbers, including linebackers and defensive backs. The adjustment is drawing criticism from the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

"Good luck trying to block the right people now," the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback wrote in an Instagram story. "Going to make for a lot of bad football."

Brady also posted an Instagram story calling the change "dumb."

"Why not let the lineman wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys... Why not wear the same number?" he added.

The new rule gives more jersey-number options to running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. They will now be permitted to wear these numbers in 2021:

  • Quarterbacks, punters, and kickers: 1–19
  • Running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends: 1–49, 80–89
  • Defensive backs: 1–49
  • Linebackers: 1–59, 90–99
  • Offensive linemen: 50–79
  • Defensive linemen: 50–79, 90–99

Coaches have also talked about the possibility of confusion among offensive linemen due to the new jersey-number alternatives for defenders. Some believe the rule could generate more free runs at quarterbacks, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.

The Kansas City Chiefs originally proposed the change.

RELATED NEWS

JIRI KULICH WINS IT IN OVERTIME!! #LetsGoBuffalo | #sabreh...
Kulich follows up mad scramble to secure OT winner 💪
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a MONSTER 😱
Greek Freak denies Mathurin, brings house down with off-glass slam from GTJ 😱
REED SHEPPARD DID THAT‼️
Sheppard saves ball, drops wicked behind-the-back pass to Eason 🚀
De'Andre Hunter RISES for the throwdown 😤 🏆 East Group C ...
Hawks' Hunter crowns Jalen Smith with big one-handed hammer 🔨