The NFL has many obscure rules that not a lot of people know about, from end zone celebrations and overweight fining to dress code rules and approved accessories. Since the official dress code is an especially interesting five-page-long policy, we’ve summarized the most interesting facts below, including the length of NFL players’ socks and how some of those rules started out.
NFL players are required to dress in a certain manner that conveys professionalism; the image of the league is reflected in the players’ appearance on the field, which directly affects the NFL’s reputation and advancement. Appropriately, the league’s uniform and equipment policy was created, with the players’ safety and professionalism as the main priority.
NFL dress code
Some of the guidelines for the NFL dress code include team jerseys that must be tucked in and towels that are only allowed to be placed into the front waist of a player’s pants. Mandatory equipment that is to be worn by all players, with the exception of punters and kickers, include shoulder thigh and knee pads.
The NFL even has rules regarding the length of players’ socks, and they are not flexible. In other words, if the socks are too low showing some skin, fines have and will be set in motion. With more on that below, let’s dive into how that rule came into the books.
Can NFL players show their legs?
In 1945, Elmer Layden, who was the commissioner of the National Football League from 1941 to 1946, decided among other things that NFL players have “unsightly legs” that should be covered by long stockings. Since then, the rule has been actively adopted in the NFL policy and is still in the books today “stockings must cover the entire area from the shoe to the bottom of the pants, and must meet the pants below the knee.” Players’ pants are also not allowed to be cut or altered in any way,” per the NFL rulebook.
The tradition of playing the National Anthem for all NFL games was the idea of Elmer Layden in 1945. One of the Four Horsem*n of Notre Dame as a player in 1924, he was commissioner of the NFL between 1941-46.
— Tim Bourret (@TimBourret) June 9, 2020
Even though this policy sounds like it could entail some flexibility with players, there have been athletes who got fined for wearing socks too low during an NFL game.
NFL athletes who got fined for showing some skin
In 2013, San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore attracted a whopping $10,500 fine for wearing pulled-up socks. “When you’re playing, you don’t think about it,” Gore said. “You’re trying to win.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was also fined $5,000 in a 2020 game against the Tennessee Titans for failing to “cover his lower leg” during the game.
Even with all the NFL fines we’ve seen over the years, getting fined for showing some leg skin is definitely one of the crazier ones.
FAQs
“Skin exposure of the lower leg and ankle area due to improper wear of game socks and/or leg coverings is prohibited at all times throughout the game,” the rulebook states. The only exception is for kickers who prefer to go barefoot, though there hasn't been one of those in years.
What is the rule about showing legs in the NFL? ›
Since 1945, the NFL has mandated that players cover every inch of their legs, via some combination of pants, stockings or socks.
Is there a dress code for the NFL? ›
All players must tuck in their jerseys. They cannot wear bandannas. Stockings must be white from the top of the shoe to midcalf and an approved team color from midcalf to the bottom of the pant leg, which must be pulled down below the knee.
Can NFL players have their knees showing? ›
For NFL rules, you cannot show any skin on your legs. So if you look at this photo, literally no knee showing. No knee skin showing.
What are the new NFL uniform rules? ›
The NFL tweaked its uniform policy to allow teams to wear alternate helmets starting in 2022 and the policy has changed again. The league announced that teams will be able to add a third helmet to their uniform choices in 2025.
Why can't your legs show in the NFL? ›
The NFL's rulebook doesn't provide much reasoning for its strict regulations, but safety is likely a factor. Leg coverings can help keep padding in place, provide support and prevent minor cuts and scrapes.
What is Rule 17 in the NFL? ›
Under Rule 17 of the NFL rulebook, the commissioner also has the authority to overturn a game result (that is, order a forfeit loss to the offending team and a walkover win for the wronged team), order the game to be fully replayed, or to discard the results of the game from the unfair act onward and resume play from ...
Why is the NFL dress code so strict? ›
NFL players are required to dress in a certain manner that conveys professionalism; the image of the league is reflected in the players' appearance on the field, which directly affects the NFL's reputation and advancement.
Why can't NFL players wear number 0? ›
Clubs voted on a series of playing rule, bylaw, and resolution proposals this week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. The first proposal allowed for more flexibility in assigning jersey numbers – and it passed. Except for offensive and defensive linemen, players can now wear the number zero.
Can you wear pink in NFL? ›
According to Pro Football Talk, the league has quietly but dramatically shifted the traditional breast cancer awareness focus to a broader cancer awareness effort. This has resulted in the replacement of pink with a more comprehensive array of colors, as reflected in the league's "Crucial Catch” logo.
The league will not tolerate game action that may endanger the health and safety of players, including roughing the passer, horse-collar tackles or hits on defenseless players. Fighting is strictly prohibited. Using profanity, displaying gang signs and taunting opponents also will draw the league's attention.
Does the NFL have a dress code? ›
The Dress Code Is Surprisingly Strict
In fact, the league's official dress code policy is an astounding five pages long. The guidelines prohibit bandanas; pants must fall below the knee; team jerseys must be tucked in; and towels can only be placed in the front of a player's pants.
Do NFL football players get new uniforms every game? ›
Nowadays, the kit man takes three jerseys per player to each game – one per half, plus a spare for emergencies. The jerseys are worn once because the club get many requests from charities for jerseys to be donated. Some players keep their jerseys, some swap jerseys with opponents and some donate them via the club.
What number can you not wear in the NFL? ›
Following the NFL number standardization of 1973, numbers 0 and 00 were no longer eligible to be issued by teams. But this has been recently changed in recent years. It was changed by the NFL in 2023 that made it so any player can wear any number they want from 0-99 if it hasn't already been taken.
How much do you get fined for showing your legs in the NFL? ›
In 2020, both JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner, both of the Pittsburgh Steelers, were fined $5,000 each for wearing stockings that “failed to cover” their lower legs, Sports Illustrated reported at the time.
Why do NFL players have to cover their knees? ›
Leagues such as the NFL and NCAA have implemented changes to their rules, requiring players to wear knee pads. These changes aim to reduce the risk of knee injuries and ensure the well-being of players on the field.
Why don't they tackle legs in the NFL? ›
The NFL analyzed more than 20,000 tackles over the past two seasons and determined that this specific technique causes lower extremity injuries at a rate 20 times higher than other tackles, resulting in an unacceptable risk to player health and safety.
Can you go for the legs in football? ›
Blocks that occur in the back of the legs and below the knees, initiated below the waist, or clotheslines are also generally prohibited and players who use them are subject to much more severe penalties than other illegal tackles.
