The NFL has recently made changes to its rules regarding which players can wear which jerseys, allowing defensive players to sport single-digit numbers. While this might seem like a minor change, it has not been well received by star quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady.
During a recent interview with Peyton and Eli Manning, Mahomes expressed his frustration with the new rule, citing the difficulty it creates for quarterbacks to identify players on the field. “It’s even crazier now because everybody can wear the single digits,” Mahomes said. “It looks cool, I’ll give everybody that, but it makes it a little difficult for the QB.
Mahomes went on to explain that, in the past, it was easy to determine which personnel grouping the defense had sent into the game based on the numbers on their jerseys.
However, with the new rule in place, it’s now much harder to determine a player’s position based on their number. “You get these guys who rotate in, and you’ll get a DB who’s in the 40s and a linebacker in single digits,” Mahomes said. “Having to really recognize that quickly.”
Mahomes echoes Brady’s opinion
Mahomes’ comments echo those of Tom Brady, who also expressed his dislike for the new rule after it was implemented. In Brady’s opinion, the new rule gives a significant advantage to the defense. “I think it’s going to make for a lot of bad football,” Brady said. “It’s not great for the quarterbacks. I know they changed it for linebackers and safeties, which I think is good. But anything that makes it harder for the quarterback to see is not great.”
Despite the complaints from quarterbacks, defensive players seem to be enjoying the new rule. For many of them, wearing a single-digit number is a badge of honor and a way to stand out on the field. “It’s a cool thing to have,” said linebacker Devin White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid.”
While there may be some initial confusion and frustration as players adjust to the new rule, it’s likely that it will eventually become the norm. As Mahomes himself said, “It looks cool.” And in a league where style is often just as important as substance, that might be enough to persuade more players to embrace the single-digit jersey trend.
