If you’re trying to make sense of current NFL players by jersey number, this FlagOh guide gives you a clear, 0–99 snapshot in one place. You’ll see how today’s number rules work, which stars are tied to key digits, and how to pick a jersey number that actually fits your fandom.
Current NFL Players by Jersey Number 0–99
This list isn’t an official league document—it’s a fan-style snapshot of current NFL players by jersey number, based on recent performance, impact on games, and how strongly fans connect each player to their digit.
Numbers 0–19
If you zoom in on today’s jersey numbers, the single digits and low teens are where a lot of the modern star power lives. When you’re watching RedZone and see a 0–19 flying around, it’s almost always a QB, WR, DB, or a hybrid defender making a play.
Single Digits (0–9): “Showtime” Numbers
Since the rules changed, single digits have become NFL jersey numbers for players who live on highlights. Here’s a snapshot of standout stars wearing numbers 0–9 today (teams and status can change, but the vibe of each number stays pretty consistent).
- #0 – Roquan Smith (Ravens, LB): The prototype modern linebacker—rangy, fast, and everywhere. Other notable 0s in recent seasons include D’Andre Swift and Calvin Ridley.
- #1 – Jalen Hurts (Eagles, QB): Dual-threat franchise QB who dragged Philly to a Super Bowl appearance. Some fans argue Ja’Marr Chase might be the most explosive #1 at WR, but Hurts is the “leader’s” version of the digit.
- #2 – Patrick Surtain II (Broncos, CB): One of the league’s cleanest cover corners. 2 has become a favorite for shutdown DBs and smooth WRs.
- #3 – Derwin James (Chargers, S): A do-it-all safety in a classic single-digit. QBs like Russell Wilson have worn 3 as well, but the defensive swag is catching up.
- #4 – Dak Prescott (Cowboys, QB): Face of America’s Team, steady top-tier production, and huge jersey sales in that navy #4.
- #5 – Tee Higgins (Bengals, WR): Big-body contested-catch WR. 5 is quietly becoming a “big-play receiver” number.
- #6 – DeVonta Smith (Eagles, WR): “Slim Reaper” is one of the cleanest route runners in football and has made 6 feel like a finesse WR number.
- #7 – C.J. Stroud (Texans, QB): After a huge rookie campaign, Stroud has a real claim on 7 for the next generation, following icons like Elway and Roethlisberger.
- #8 – Lamar Jackson (Ravens, QB): An MVP in one of the most iconic modern digits in the league. Aaron Rodgers has also worn 8 more recently, but Jackson still feels like the true face of this number.
- #9 – Joe Burrow (Bengals, QB): Calm, surgical, and icy. 9 is now associated with pocket assassins in the AFC.
The Playmakers (10–19): Wide Receiver Heaven
The teens have turned into wide receiver and QB merch central—if you walk into a stadium store, you’ll see more 10–19s than almost anything else.
Some of the most notable current players wearing these numbers are:
- #10 – Tyreek Hill (Dolphins, WR): “The Cheetah.” Maybe the most feared serious threat in the NFL.
- #11 – A.J. Brown (Eagles, WR) / Micah Parsons (Cowboys, EDGE): The fun part of 11 now is that it can belong to a dominant WR or a game-wrecking pass rusher.
- #13 – Mike Evans (Buccaneers, WR): A walking 1,000-yard season and one of the most consistent big receivers in the league.
- #15 – Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs, QB): No debate: 15 is synonymous with Mahomes. When people talk about NFL jersey number culture, this is one of the first pairings they mention.
- #17 – Josh Allen (Bills, QB) / Davante Adams (Raiders, WR): One of the most absurd QB arms in football shares a number with one of the most polished route runners.
- #18 – Justin Jefferson (Vikings, WR): If you search for “NFL players jersey number 18,” Jefferson’s name is going to come up a lot—he’s basically the poster boy for 18 in today’s league.
Numbers 20–49
This is where you find workhorse running backs and ballhawking defensive backs, with a growing population of fast, hybrid linebackers.
Running Backs & Versatile Backs (20s & 30s)
A few key examples:
- #20 – Breece Hall (Jets, RB): A big-play back who can take over a game when healthy.
- #22 – Derrick Henry (Ravens, RB): Even with some miles on the odometer, 22 still screams “King Henry” in the run game.
- #23 – Christian McCaffrey (49ers, RB): Arguably the most complete offensive weapon in football—22 and 23 are two of the strongest RB numbers in the league.
- #30 – Austin Ekeler (Commanders, RB): Known for fantasy points and receiving skills out of the backfield.
Corners, Safeties & Hybrid Linebackers (20–49)
Many of the league’s best coverage players and turnover machines live here:
- #21, #24, #27, #29 are classic corner numbers—if you see them on the outside, assume they’re guarding someone dangerous.
- Safeties and nickel defenders often rock 31, 32, 33, 43, and 44, numbers that have a long history of violent hits and timely picks.
- Because linebackers can now wear numbers in the 20s and 30s, you’ll also see some fast off-ball LBs in what used to be purely DB territory.
Numbers 50–79
These are the trenches: offensive linemen, many linebackers, and some defensive linemen. They don’t always lead jersey sales, but they decide who wins on Sunday.
Linebackers in the 50s
You’ll still find some classic off-ball LBs in the 50s, even with single digits available:
- Numbers like 50, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 are still associated with hard-hitting linebackers and edge players in certain schemes.
Offensive Line Anchors (60s–70s)
For O-line, the exact number matters less than the player: #71 – Trent Williams (49ers, LT). Widely considered one of the best, if not the best, left tackles of his era.
Centers and guards across the league wear the 60s and low 70s—when you see 60–79 in the huddle, those guys are your QB’s bodyguards.
Numbers 80–99
This range has classic wide receiver numbers, versatile tight ends, and the pass-rush monsters that wreck games.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends (80–89)
While many star WRs moved into 10–19, the 80s still carry serious weight:
- #80, #81, #82 often sit on possession receivers and tight ends.
- #88 is a legendary receiver number—especially in Dallas—and continues to pop up on big-play WRs and TEs.
These digits feel “old school” in the best way: you think of chain-moving catches, toe-taps, and red-zone fades.
Pass-Rush Monsters (90–99)
If your favorite team’s QB sees a 90-something in the backfield, it’s usually bad news. Some standout examples in the 90s:
- #90 – T.J. Watt (Steelers, EDGE): A non-stop pressure machine and perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
- #95 – Myles Garrett (Browns, EDGE): One of the most freakish athletes in the league at any position.
- #97 – Nick Bosa (49ers, EDGE): Cornerstone pass rusher for one of the NFL’s best defenses.
- #98 – Maxx Crosby (Raiders, EDGE): Energizer and leader of the Raiders’ front.
- #99 – Aaron Donald (Rams, DL): Even as his career winds down, #99 is still almost synonymous with destruction on the interior.
How NFL Jersey Numbers Work Today
Before we argue about who owns #1 or #88, it helps to know how uniform and roster numbers are assigned across the league. These ranges follow the numbering system adopted by the NFL’s competition committee and written into the league’s official operations guidelines in the early 2020s.
Why Jersey Numbers Changed Recently
For decades, the NFL forced positions into tight number ranges—QBs in the teens, WRs in the 80s, DBs in the 20s–40s, etc. That started to loosen in 2021, and in 2023, the league went even further, allowing more positions to wear single digits and bringing back the number 0 for everyone except offensive and defensive linemen.
Result: linebackers, safeties, and wide receivers are now grabbing “QB-looking” numbers, which is why you see star defenders in 0, 2, 3, 7 instead of 52 or 58. It also means fans have to relearn who wears what number almost every season.
NFL Jersey Number Rules
As of the mid-2020s, these are the official NFL jersey number rules for each position:
- Quarterbacks: 0–19
- Running backs/fullbacks / H-backs: 0–49, 80–89
- Wide receivers: 0–49, 80–89
- Tight ends: 0–49, 80–89
- Defensive backs (CBs and safeties): 0–49
- Linebackers: 0–59, 90–99
- Defensive linemen: 50–79, 90–99
- Offensive linemen: 50–79
- Kickers/punters: 0–49, 90–99
Offensive linemen are still locked into 50–79, so referees can instantly see who’s eligible to catch a pass and who isn’t.
The Return of Number 0
Numbers 0 and 00 were banned after the 1973 standardization and stayed that way for decades. In 2023, the league brought back 0 (but not 00). Skill players and defenders pounced on it—linebacker Roquan Smith of the Ravens switched from 18 to 0 and became one of the most visible “Agent Zero” figures in the league.
Today, 0 has become a “flex” number: if you’re wearing it, you’re basically telling everyone you expect to be noticed.
How To Choose Your Own Jersey Number As A Fan
When you scroll through current NFL players by jersey number, it’s easy to spot the stars that define each digit—and with FlagOh helping you understand how those numbers work, it gets a lot easier to choose the right one for yourself. We talk to fans all the time who start with a favorite player and end up building a whole game-day identity around that number.
Pick a Number Based on Your Favorite Player or Team
- Love the Chiefs? 15 (Mahomes) or 87 (Kelce).
- Live in Buffalo? 17 (Allen) or 14 (Diggs).
- Root for the Niners? 10 (Deebo), 23 (McCaffrey), 97 (Bosa).
Even when rosters change, those numbers stay tied to eras and memories.
Pick a Number Based on Your Story
Make your jersey number personal:
- Your birth year or graduation year (e.g., 24, 25).
- Your lucky number.
- The number you wore in high school or rec ball.
You’ll see plenty of rec-league and flag football jerseys where people mix “idol number + personal meaning” to make something unique.
Matching Numbers for Couples, Friends & Families
Fun ideas:
- Couples: 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 87.
- Siblings or roommates: same number, different colors.
- Whole fantasy league or friend group: everyone picks a different single digit or sticks to one team’s classic numbers.
Once you’ve picked your number, it’s easy to turn it into a custom jersey or even a custom flag you can wear or fly on game day. Following current NFL players by jersey number is only the first step — the real fun is how you use those numbers in real life. At FlagOh, we specialise in sports flags and fan gear, so you can turn your favorite jersey number into a flag, banner, or jersey that matches your team, your player, and your story, ready for every game day.