NFL jersey number changes: Why Dalvin Cook, Derwin James and other stars have new numbers for 2022 season

Gilbert McGregor

NFL jersey number changes: Why Dalvin Cook, Derwin James and other stars have new numbers for 2022 season image

Sometimes, good things are worth the wait.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook might not have said the above words verbatim, but he reportedly saved over $1 million by waiting a season to take advantage of the changes in the NFL's jersey number rules to switch to No. 4 for the 2022 season.

To add context to Cook's cost-saving move, NFL rules mandated him to buy out the existing inventory of retail-ready No. 33 jerseys if he were to change his number during the 2021 season. Instead of shelling out the cash, Cook played out the 2021 season wearing No. 33 and, ahead of the 2022 NFL season, switched to No. 4, which he wore while torching ACC defenses during his time at Florida State. 

Cook isn't the only former Seminole to change back to his collegiate number, as Chargers safety Derwin James has dropped a digit to go from wearing No. 33 during the first two seasons of his career to wearing No. 3 in 2022.

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Cook and James are two of many notable players who have made the change ahead of the upcoming campaign. Here's all you need to know about the NFL's jersey number changes ahead of the 2022 season.

What is the NFL jersey number rule?

Beginning in the 2021 season, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs were given more number options, with each of the groups receiving clearance to have single-digit uniform numbers.

In addition to single digits, running backs can wear numbers in the teens or the 80s, tight ends and wide receivers can wear numbers 30 through 49 and defensive backs can also wear numbers in the teens.

Here is how the number groupings break down:

Position group Number options Previous number options
Quarterbacks 1-19 1-19
Running backs 1-49, 80-89 20-49
Wide receivers 1-49, 80-89 10-19, 80-89
Tight ends 1-49, 80-89 40-49, 80-89
Offensive line 50-79 50-79
Defensive line 50-79, 90-99 50-79, 90-99
Linebackers 1-59, 90-99 40-59, 90-99
Defensive backs 1-49 20-49
Kickers 1-19 1-19
Punters 1-19 1-19

NFL number changes 2022

Including Cook and James, there is a large group of veterans that will be sporting new looks during the upcoming NFL season, including Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson, who is accompanying a change in the spelling of his first name with a switch from No. 11 to No. 6.

Team Player Position New Number Old Number
Atlanta Falcons Lorenzo Carter LB 9 59
Baltimore Ravens Rashod Bateman WR 7 12
Baltimore Ravens James Proche WR 3 11
Buffalo Bills Jaquan Johnson CB 4 46
Buffalo Bills Taron Johnson CB 7 24
Buffalo Bills Isaiah McKenzie WR 6 19
Buffalo Bills Andre Smith LB 9 59
Carolina Panthers Robbie Anderson WR 3 11
Cleveland Browns Amari Cooper WR 2 89
Dallas Cowboys Anthony Brown CB 3 30
Dallas Cowboys Kelvin Joseph CB 1 24
Dallas Cowboys Jourdan Lewis CB 2 26
Denver Broncos Randy Gregory DE 5 94
Detroit Lions DJ Chark WR 4 17
Detroit Lions DeShon Elliott S 5 32
Detroit Lions Jeff Okudah CB 1 23
Detroit Lions Josh Reynolds WR 8 18
Green Bay Packers Dallin Leavitt S 6 32
Houston Texans Marlon Mack RB 2 25
Houston Texans Tremon Smith CB 1 24
Kansas City Chiefs Ronald Jones II RB 2 27
Kansas City Chiefs JuJu Smith-Schuster WR 9 19
Los Angeles Chargers Gerald Everett TE 7 81
Los Angeles Chargers Derwin James S 3 33
Los Angeles Chargers Kyle Van Noy LB 8 53
Los Angeles Rams Cam Akers RB 3 23
Los Angeles Rams Troy Hill CB 2 23
Los Angeles Rams Allen Robinson WR 1 12
Las Vegas Raiders Tyron Johnson WR 1 17
Miami Dolphins Jevon Holland S 8 22
Minnesota Vikings Dalvin Cook RB 4 33
Minnesota Vikings Cam Dantzler CB 3 27
Minnesota Vikings Alexander Mattison RB 2 25
New England Patriots DeVante Parker WR 1 11
New England Patriots Jabrill Peppers S 3 21
New Orleans Saints Mark Ingram II RB 5 14
New Orleans Saints Marcus Maye S 6 20
New York Jets Jordan Whitehead S 6 33
Philadelphia Eagles Zach Pascal WR 3 14
Philadelphia Eagles Haason Reddick LB 7 43
San Francisco 49ers Ray-Ray McCloud WR 3 14
Seattle Seahawks Uchenna Nwosu LB 10 42
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kyle Rudolph TE 8 80
Tennessee Titans Cody Hollister WR 8 16
Washington Commanders William Jackson III CB 3 23

The 2022 draft class is the second group of rookies that were able to take advantage of the new rules from Day 1.

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Among notable rookies to take advantage of the rules are top-10 picks Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Drake London.

Team Player Position Number
Atlanta Falcons Drake London WR 5
Baltimore Ravens Kyle Hamilton CB 14
Chicago Bears Jaquan Brisker S 9
Chicago Bears Kyler Gordon CB 6
Detroit Lions Jameson Williams WR 9
Green Bay Packers Quay Walker LB 7
Green Bay Packers Christian Watson WR 9
Houston Texans Jalen Pitre S 5
Jacksonville Jaguars Devin Lloyd LB 33
Kansas City Chiefs Bryan Cook S 6
Kansas City Chiefs Skyy Moore WR 24
Minnesota Vikings Lewis Cine S 6
New York Giants Kayvon Thibodeaux DE 5
New York Jets Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner CB 1
Seattle Seahawks Coby Bryant CB 8
Seattle Seahawks Kenneth Walker III RB 9
Washington Commanders Jahan Dotson WR 1

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.