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San Francisco 49ers. retired numbers displayed at Candlestick Park in June 2009
San Francisco 49ers. retired numbers displayed at Candlestick Park in June 2009

Teams in the National Football League (NFL) retire jersey numbers of players who either are considered by the team to have made significant contributions to that team's success, or who have experienced untimely deaths during their playing career. As with other leagues, once a team retires a player's jersey number, it never issues the number to any other player, unless the player or team explicitly allows it.

History

Since NFL teams began retiring numbers, 156 players have had their jersey number retired. The Chicago Bears and the New York Giants have the most retired numbers of the teams with 14 each. Only one player, Reggie White, has had his number retired by two teams, although Peyton Manning received an acknowledgment when the Denver Broncos re-retired the number 18, which is officially retired under the name of Frank Tripucka (who granted Manning a special exception to wear the number).[1] Three teams –the Las Vegas Raiders,[2] the Atlanta Falcons,[3][4] and the Dallas Cowboys[5]– traditionally do not retire jersey numbers. Also without a retired jersey number are the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans, though they are less than 30 years old. The Texans, who are the newest member of the league, did not make its first playoff appearance until 2011, and have not yet built up a history long enough to warrant retiring a number.

The Buffalo Bills under Ralph Wilson also did not, with the exception of Jim Kelly, officially retire jersey numbers; this policy was reversed under Wilson's successor Terry Pegula.[6]

Unlike Major League Baseball (which retired Jackie Robinson's number 42), the National Hockey League (which retired Wayne Gretzky's 99), and the National Basketball Association (which retired Bill Russell's 6), the NFL has never retired a jersey number league-wide in honor of anyone. Numbers 0 and 00 are no longer allowed, but were not retired in honor of any particular player; rather, the NFL's positional numbering system, imposed in 1973, simply does not allocate a position for players wearing those numbers (the NFL allowed those numbers in the past; Johnny Olszewski, Obert Logan, Jim Otto, and Ken Burrough all wore 0 or 00). The numbers can be, and rarely are, used in the preseason when no other numbers for a player's position are available.[7]

Retired numbers

Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jim Kelly, the first player to have his jersey number (12) officially retired by the Buffalo Bills, is seen here in 2010
Jim Kelly, the first player to have his jersey number (12) officially retired by the Buffalo Bills, is seen here in 2010
Otto Graham, whose number 14 was retired by the Browns, at his new job, as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Athletic Director in 1959
Otto Graham, whose number 14 was retired by the Browns, at his new job, as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Athletic Director in 1959
Jim Brown's #32 was retired by the Browns after his 9-years tenure on the franchise
Jim Brown's #32 was retired by the Browns after his 9-years tenure on the franchise
Lenny Moore, whose number 24 was retired by the Colts, poses for a picture at Baltimore in 2011
Lenny Moore, whose number 24 was retired by the Colts, poses for a picture at Baltimore in 2011
Junior Seau, whose number 55 was retired by the Chargers, in 2008 playing a game with the New England Patriots
Junior Seau, whose number 55 was retired by the Chargers, in 2008 playing a game with the New England Patriots
Phil Simms, whose number 11 was retired by the Giants, signing autographs at Rams Park in 2003
Phil Simms, whose number 11 was retired by the Giants, signing autographs at Rams Park in 2003
Gale Sayers, whose number 40 was retired by the Bears, giving a keynote speech at an awards ceremony in 2008 for the U.S. Army High School Football Player of the Year award
Gale Sayers, whose number 40 was retired by the Bears, giving a keynote speech at an awards ceremony in 2008 for the U.S. Army High School Football Player of the Year award
Mike Ditka, whose number 89 was retired by the Bears in a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys
Mike Ditka, whose number 89 was retired by the Bears in a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys
Fran Tarkenton, whose number 10 was retired by the Vikings, after giving a speech at Atlanta in 2010
Fran Tarkenton, whose number 10 was retired by the Vikings, after giving a speech at Atlanta in 2010
Warren Sapp (left), whose number 99 was retired by the Buccaneers, visits members of the US Navy in 2003
Warren Sapp (left), whose number 99 was retired by the Buccaneers, visits members of the US Navy in 2003
Peyton Manning's number 18 was retired by the Colts in 2017
Peyton Manning's number 18 was retired by the Colts in 2017
Sonny Jurgensen's number 9 was retired by the Washington Commanders in 2022
Sonny Jurgensen's number 9 was retired by the Washington Commanders in 2022
Player No. Team Years with team Year retired Refs[8]
Larry Wilson 8 Arizona Cardinals 1960–72 1970
Pat Tillman 40 1998–2001 2004 [9]
Stan Mauldin 77 1946–48
J. V. Cain 88 1974–78 1979
Marshall Goldberg* 99 1939–43, 1946–48
Jim Kelly 12 Buffalo Bills 1986–96 2001 [10]
Thurman Thomas 34 1988–99 2018 [11]
Bruce Smith 78 1985–99 2016 [12]
Sam Mills 51 Carolina Panthers 1995–97 2005
Bronko Nagurski 3 Chicago Bears 1930–37, 1943
George McAfee 5 1940–41, 1945–50 1955
George Halas 7 1920–28
Willie Galimore 28 1957–63
Walter Payton 34 1975–87
Gale Sayers 40 1965–71 1994
Brian Piccolo 41 1965–69
Sid Luckman 42 1939–50
Dick Butkus 51 1965–73 1994
Bill Hewitt 56 1932–36
Bill George 61 1952–65
Bulldog Turner 66 1940–52
Red Grange 77 1925–34
Mike Ditka 89 1961–66 2013 [13]
Bob Johnson 54 Cincinnati Bengals 1968–79 1978
Otto Graham 14 Cleveland Browns 1946–55
Jim Brown 32 1957–65
Ernie Davis 45 1962 1963 [citation needed]
Don Fleming 46 1960–62
Lou Groza 76 1946–59, 1961–67 1968 [14][15]
John Elway 7 Denver Broncos 1983–98 1999 [16][17]
Frank Tripucka* 18 1960–63 1963 [18][17]
Floyd Little 44 1967–75 1984 [17]
Dutch Clark 7 Detroit Lions 1931–32, 1934–38 1939 [19][20][21]
Lem Barney 20 1967–77 2004 [22]
Billy Sims 1980–84 2004 [22]
Barry Sanders 1989–98 2004 [22]
Bobby Layne 22 1950–58
Doak Walker 37 1950–55 1955 [19][23][24]
Joe Schmidt 56 1953–65
Chuck Hughes 85 1970–71
Tony Canadeo 3 Green Bay Packers 1941–52 1952
Brett Favre 4 1992–2007 2015
Don Hutson 14 1935–45 1951
Bart Starr 15 1956–71 1973
Ray Nitschke 66 1958–72 1983
Reggie White 92 1993–98 1999 [25]
Peyton Manning 18 Indianapolis Colts 1998–2011 2017 [26]
Johnny Unitas 19 1956–72 [27]
Buddy Young 22 1953–55 [27]
Lenny Moore 24 1956–67 1968 [27]
Art Donovan 70 1953–61 1962 [27]
Jim Parker 77 1957–67 [27]
Raymond Berry 82 1955–67 [27]
Gino Marchetti 89 1953–66 [27]
Tony Boselli 71 Jacksonville Jaguars 1995–2001 2022 [28]
Jan Stenerud 3 Kansas City Chiefs 1967–79 1992
Len Dawson 16 1962–75
Emmitt Thomas 18 1966–78 2008 [29]
Abner Haynes 28 1960–64
Stone Johnson 33 1963 1963 [30]
Mack Lee Hill 36 1964–65
Derrick Thomas 58 1989–99 2009 [31]
Willie Lanier 63 1967–77 1992
Bobby Bell 78 1963–74 1984
Buck Buchanan 86 1963–75 1992
Dan Fouts 14 Los Angeles Chargers 1973–87 1988 [32][33][34]
Lance Alworth 19 1962–70 2005 [34][35]
LaDainian Tomlinson 21 2001–09 2015 [34][36]
Junior Seau 55 1990–02 2012 [34][37]
Bob Waterfield 7 Los Angeles Rams 1945–52 1952
Marshall Faulk 28 1999–2006 2007 [38]
Eric Dickerson 29 1983–87
Merlin Olsen 74 1962–76
Deacon Jones 75 1961–71 2009 [39]
Jackie Slater 78 1976–95 1996
Isaac Bruce 80 1994–2007 2010 [40]
Jack Youngblood 85 1971–84
Bob Griese 12 Miami Dolphins 1967–80 1985
Dan Marino 13 1983–99 2000
Larry Csonka 39 1968–74, 1979 2002
Fran Tarkenton 10 Minnesota Vikings 1961–66, 1972–78 1979
Mick Tingelhoff 53 1962–78 2001
Jim Marshall 70 1961–79 1999
Korey Stringer 77 1995–2000 2001
Cris Carter 80 1990–2001 2003
Alan Page 88 1967–78 1988
Gino Cappelletti 20 New England Patriots 1960–70 [41]
Mike Haynes 40 1976–82 [42]
Steve Nelson 57 1974–87 1988 [42]
John Hannah 73 1973–85 [42]
Bruce Armstrong 78 1987–2000 2000 [42]
Jim Lee Hunt 79 1960–70 [42]
Bob Dee 89 1960–67 [42]
Jim Taylor 31 New Orleans Saints 1967
Doug Atkins 81 1967–69 1969
Ray Flaherty 1 New York Giants 1928–35 1935
Tuffy Leemans 4 1936–43 1940
Mel Hein 7 1931–45 1963
Eli Manning 10 2004–19 2021 [43]
Phil Simms 11 1979–93 1995
Ward Cuff 14 1937–45 1946 [44]
Y. A. Tittle 1961–64 1965
Frank Gifford 16 1952–64 2000
Al Blozis 32 1942–44 1945
Joe Morrison 40 1959–72 1973
Charlie Conerly 42 1948–61 1962
Ken Strong 50 1936–47 1968
Lawrence Taylor 56 1981–93 1994
Michael Strahan 92 1993–2007 2021 [45]
Joe Namath 12 New York Jets 1965–76 1985
Don Maynard 13 1963–72
Curtis Martin 28 1998–2005 2012 [46]
Joe Kłecko 73 1977–87 2004
Dennis Byrd 90 1989–92 2012 [47][48]
Donovan McNabb 5 Philadelphia Eagles 1999–2009 2013 [49]
Steve Van Buren 15 1944–51 1951 [50]
Brian Dawkins 20 1996–2008 2012 [51]
Tom Brookshier 40 1953–61 1962 [50]
Pete Retzlaff 44 1956–66 1965 [50]
Chuck Bednarik 60 1949–62
Al Wistert 70 1944–51 1952 [50]
Reggie White 92 1985–92 2005 [50][52]
Jerome Brown 99 1987–91 1992 [50][53]
Franco Harris 32 Pittsburgh Steelers 1972–83 2022
Ernie Stautner 70 1950–63 1964
Joe Greene 75 1969–81 2014 [54]
Steve Young 8 San Francisco 49ers 1987–99 2008 [55]
John Brodie* 12 1957–73 [56]
Joe Montana 16 1979–92 1997
Joe Perry 34 1948–60 1971
Jimmy Johnson 37 1961–76 1977
Hugh McElhenny 39 1952–60
Ronnie Lott 42 1981–90 2003 [57]
Charlie Krueger 70 1959–73 1974
Leo Nomellini 73 1950–63 1971
Bob St. Clair 79 1953–63 2001
Jerry Rice 80 1985–2000 2010 [58]
Dwight Clark 87 1979–87 1988
Kenny Easley 45 Seattle Seahawks 1981–87 2017
Walter Jones 71 1997–2009 2010
Steve Largent* 80 1976–89 1992 [59][60]
Cortez Kennedy 96 1990–2000 2012 [61][62]
Fans (12th man) 12 — 1984
Derrick Brooks 55 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1995–2008 2014 [63]
Lee Roy Selmon 63 1976–84 1986
Warren Sapp 99 1995–2003 2013 [64]
Warren Moon 1 Tennessee Titans 1984–93 2006 [65][66]
Steve McNair 9 1995–2005 2019 [67]
Eddie George 27 1996–2003 2019 [67]
Earl Campbell 34 1978–84 1987
Jim Norton 43 1960–68 2019
Mike Munchak 63 1982–93 1996
Elvin Bethea 65 1968–83 1983
Bruce Matthews 74 1983–2001 2002
Sonny Jurgensen 9 Washington Commanders 1964–74 2022
Sean Taylor 21 2004–2007 2021
Sammy Baugh 33 1937–52 [68]
Bobby Mitchell 49 1962–68 2020 [68]

Key:

*- Player listed as honorable mention and was allowed to wear number after original retirement

See also

References

  1. ^ Lynch, Tim (September 18, 2016). "Denver Broncos to unveil retired number signage on Sunday". Mile High Report.
  2. ^ "4 legendary jersey numbers the Raiders should retire". Raiders Wire. June 13, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Atlanta Falcons Ring Of Honor". Atlanta.
  4. ^ "The Raiders don't retire numbers, but we'd honor these 7 in team's last Oakland season". Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Jaylon Smith, Donovan Wilson Switch Numbers". www.dallascowboys.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  6. ^ "Bills to retire Hall of Famer Smith's No. 78 jersey". ESPN.com. May 11, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "The 00 Fad: It's Much Ado About Nothing". The Chicago Tribune. May 27, 1990.
  8. ^ "NFL Retired Player Numbers". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Pat Tillman". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. ^ The Times newspaper 2001-12-19, scanned and uploaded to Google News, retrieved December 6, 2011
  11. ^ Bills to retire Thurman Thomas' number 34 during Monday's game. Rochester First (October 29, 2018). Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Bills’ Bruce Smith to have jersey number retired at 2016 home opener. WIVB-TV (May 10, 2016). Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  13. ^ "Chicago icon Ditka gets Bears jersey retired". ESPN.com. December 10, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lou "The Toe" Groza". Lou Groza Charity Golf Event. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Lou Groza". American Football Kicking Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  16. ^ Capello, Jilly (September 23, 2019). "Broncos Retired John Elway's Jersey 20 Years Ago -- Where Is He Now?". Sportscasting | Pure Sports. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "Broncos to display three retired jersey numbers at stadium". The Denver Post. September 17, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  18. ^ *Peyton Manning received permission from Tripucka to wear No. 18 during his time with the Broncos.
  19. ^ a b "Detroit Lions Team Facts". ProFootballHOF.com. NFL Enterprises. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  20. ^ Willis, Chris (2012). Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 277. ISBN 978-0810885202. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Cleveland Rams at Detroit Lions - October 15th, 1939". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Hackenberg, Dave (November 26, 2004). "Lions have 20-20-20 vision". Toledo Blade. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  23. ^ Berson, Jake (December 7, 1955). "Lions Hold 'Day' For Walker Sunday". Detroit Free Press. p. 7. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Northard, Lloyd (December 12, 1955). "Lions Honor Doak: Walker Hangs Up NFL Cleats, Scoring Title". Brownwood (TX) Bulletin. p. 4. Archived from the original on December 28, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Packers retire Reggie White's jersey" Archived April 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, October 11, 1999
  26. ^ "Colts to Erect Peyton Manning Statue Outside of Lucas Oil Stadium". Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Played for the Colts while the franchise was at Baltimore.
  28. ^ Isom, Brie (October 9, 2022). "Tony Boselli's number officially retired, receives Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during halftime". News4Jax. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  29. ^ "HugeDomains.com – KcChiefsFootball.com is for sale (Kc Chiefs Football)". www.hugedomains.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. ((cite web)): Cite uses generic title (help)
  30. ^ Johnson died from injuries sustained in the 1963 preseason, his rookie campaign. Stone Johnson died 50 years ago from injury in NFL game
  31. ^ "Chiefs retire Thomas' No. 58 at half" - ESPN, December 6, 2009
  32. ^ Hewitt, Brian (March 31, 1988). "Chargers Have Seen Their Final No. 14 : Spanos Says Fouts' Jersey to Become Only One Retired by Team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  33. ^ Crow, Alfie (May 12, 2012). "Chargers Will Retire Junior Seau's No. 55". SB Nation. Retrieved December 30, 2018. Fouts' number was retired in 1988 and Alworth's was retired in 2005.
  34. ^ a b c d Played for the Chargers while the franchise was at San Diego.
  35. ^ "On a banner day for Alworth, Chargers retire jersey No. 19", The San Diego Union Tribune, November 21, 2005
  36. ^ "Chargers To Retire LaDainian Tomlinson's Number". Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  37. ^ ESPN, May 11, 2012
  38. ^ "Rams retire Faulk's No. 28 jersey at halftime", NFL news (official), December 22, 2007
  39. ^ "Rams retire Jones' No. 75 jersey", ESPN, September 27, 2009
  40. ^ "Rams retire Isaac Bruce's number", ESPN, October 31, 2010
  41. ^ "NFL Players | Taste of the NFL". tnfl.
  42. ^ a b c d e f "Patriots Grogan and Bledsoe Caught in Retired Numbers Game | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights". Bleacher Report.
  43. ^ Botte, Peter (January 24, 2020). "Eli Manning saying goodbye to Giants 'my way' in retirement press conference".
  44. ^ "NY Giants information guide" (PDF). prod.static.giants.clubs.nfl.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  45. ^ "Giants also planning to retire Michael Strahan's No. 92". January 25, 2020.
  46. ^ "Curtis Martin has jersey number retired by Jets", Daynews, September 9, 2012
  47. ^ Cimini, Rich (October 24, 2012). "The bond no man could break". ESPNNewYork.com. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  48. ^ Lange, Randy (October 28, 2012). "Jets Come Up Empty in 30-9 Loss to Dolphins". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  49. ^ "Fans cheer as McNabb has number retired". ESPN.com. September 20, 2013.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Daily Philadelphian.com Archived May 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, August 14, 2011
  51. ^ "Dawkins Speaks, Number Retired".
  52. ^ "Eagles honor Reggie White, retire his jersey", ESPN, December 5, 2005
  53. ^ "Eagles make sure no one wears 99 again" - The Morning Call, September 7, 1992
  54. ^ "'Completely overwhelming': Steelers raise curtain on Joe Greene's No. 75". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  55. ^ "49ers to retire Young's #8", TSN website, September 25, 2008
  56. ^ Trent Dilfer received permission from Brodie, a personal friend, to wear #12 during his time with the 49ers."Dilfer to wear longtime hero Brodie's No. 12", ESPN, July 28, 2006
  57. ^ "49ers to retire Lott's jersey" - SF Gate.com, November 6, 2003
  58. ^ "49ers retire Jerry Rice's number at half" - ESPN, September 21, 2010
  59. ^ Jerry Rice received permission from Largent to wear #80 during his time with the Seahawks.
  60. ^ "Seahawks/NFL: Loan of No. 80 a class act by Hawks' classiest", October 22, 2004
  61. ^ "Seahawks retire Cortez Kennedy's No. 96", King5.com Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, October 14, 2012
  62. ^ "Hawks to retire Cortez Kennedy’s jersey", The News Tribune, October 11, 2012
  63. ^ "Brooks' #55 To Be Retired".
  64. ^ "Bucs to retire Warren Sapp's No. 99", May 2, 2013
  65. ^ "Titans Retire Warren Moon's No. 1", October 6, 2010
  66. ^ "Retired jersey numbers on Titans website". Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  67. ^ a b Wagner-McGough, Sean (June 12, 2019). "Titans to retire Steve McNair's No. 9 and Eddie George's No. 27 jerseys during home opener". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  68. ^ a b Keim, John (June 20, 2020). "Washington Redskins to retire No. 49 of Bobby Mitchell, HOFer and team's first black player". ESPN. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
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