Few honors are as coveted in professional sports as having one's jersey number retired. It's a testament to a player's extraordinary impact on the game, a symbol of their enduring legacy, and a mark of respect from the franchise they represented. This series will delve into the rich history of retired jerseys in football.
From the gridiron's earliest days to the modern era of superstar athletes, we will explore the stories behind the numbers that have been permanently shelved. We'll examine the criteria that teams use to determine which jerseys are worthy of retirement, the significance of specific numbers in football culture, and the impact these retired jerseys have on fans and the sport.
Join us as we pay tribute to the legendary players whose contributions to the game have earned them this ultimate honor. We'll uncover the fascinating tales of how these jerseys came to be retired, the controversies that sometimes surround these decisions, and the enduring legacies of the athletes they represent.
As of the start of the 2024 season there are 163 people that have a number set aside in their honor on 26 of the 32 teams.
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The Legends By the Retired Numbers
Here is a look at the people for each number retired in the NFL:
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Jersey Number 1
Ray Flaherty 1928–1935 - Giants
Warren Moon 1984–1993 - Oilers/Titans
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Jersey Number 3
Tony Canadeo 1941–1952 - Green Bay
Jan Stenerud 1967–1979 - Chiefs
Bronko Nagurski 1930–1937, 1943 - Bears
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Jersey Number 4
Brett Favre 1992–2007 - Green Bay
Tuffy Leemans 1936–1943 - Giants
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Jersey Number 5
George McAfee 1940–1941, 1945–1950 - Bears
Donovan McNabb 1999–2009 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 7
John Elway - Denver
Dutch Clark - Detroit
George Halas 1920- 1928 - Bears
Bob Waterfield 1945–1952 - Rams
Mel Hein 1931–1945 - Giants
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Jersey Number 8
Larry Wilson - Cardinals
Steve Young 1987–1999 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 9
Steve McNair 1995–2005 Oiler/Titans
Sonny Jurgensen 1964–1974 - Washington
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Jersey Number 10
Fran Tarkenton 1961–1966, 1972–1978 - Vikings
Eli Manning 2004–2019 - Giants
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Jersey Number 11
Phil Simms 1979–1993 - Giants
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Jersey Number 12
Jim Kelly - Buffalo
Bob Griese 1967–1980 - Dolphins
Tom Brady 2000-2019 - Patriots
Joe Namath 1965–1976 - Jets
John Brodie 1957–1973 -49ers
FAN (12s) The fans or 12th man of the Seahawks
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Jersey Number 13
Dan Marino 1983–1999 - Dolphins
Don Maynard 1963–1972 - Jets
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Jersey Number 14
Don Hutson 1935–1945 Green Bay
Otto Graham - Cleveland
Dan Fouts 1973–1987 - Chargers
Ward Cuff 1937–1945 - Giants
Y. A. Tittle 1961–1964 - Giants
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Jersey Number 15
Bart Starr 1956–1971 - Green Bay
Steve Van Buren 1944–1951 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 16
Len Dawson 1962–1975 - Chiefs
Frank Gifford 1952–1964 - Giants
Joe Montana 1979–1992 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 18
Frank Tripuka - Denver
Peyton Manning 1998–2011 Colts
Emmitt Thomas 1966–1978 - Chiefs
Charlie Joiner 1976–1986 - Chargers
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Jersey Number 19
Johnny Unitas 1956–1972 - Colts
Lance Alworth 1962–1970 - Chargers
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Jersey Number 20
Lem Barney - Detroit
Barry Sanders - Detroit
Billy Simms - Detroit
Gino Cappelletti 1960–1970 - Patriots
Brian Dawkins 1996–2008 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 21
LaDainian Tomlinson 2001–2009 -Chargers
Sean Taylor 2004–2007 - Washington
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Jersey Number 22
Buddy Young 1953–1955 - Colts
Bobby Layne - Detroit
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Jersey Number 24
Lenny Moore 1956–1967 - Colts
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Jersey Number 27
Eddie George 1996–2003 - Oilers/Titans
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Jersey Number 28
Willie Galimore 1957 -1963 - Bears
Abner Haynes 1960–1964 - Chiefs
Marshall Faulk 1999–2006 - Rams
Curtis Martin 1998–2005 - Jets
Darrell Green 1983–2002 - Washington
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Jersey Number 29
Eric Dickerson 1983–1987 - Rams
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Jersey Number 32
Jim Brown - Cleveland
Al Blozis 1942–1944 - Giants
Franco Harris 1972–1983 - Pittsburgh
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Jersey Number 33
Stone Johnson 1963 - Chiefs
Sammy Baugh 1937–1952 - Washington
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Jersey Number 34
Walter Payton 1975–1987 - Bears
Thurmon Thomas - Buffalo
Joe Perry 1948–1960 - 49ers
Earl Campbell 1978–1984 - Oilers/Titans
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Jersey Number 36
Mack Lee Hill 1964–1965 - Chiefs
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Jersey Number 37
Doak Walker - Detroit
Jimmy Johnson 1961–1976 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 39
Larry Csonka 1968–1974 - Dolphins
Hugh McElhenny 1952–1960 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 40
Pat Tillman - Cardinals
Gale Sayers 1965–1971 - Bears
Mike Haynes 1976–1982 - Patriots
Joe Morrison 1959–1972 - Giants
Tom Brookshier 1953–1961 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 41
Brian Piccolo 1965–1969 - Bears
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Jersey Number 42
Sid Luckman 1939–1950 - Bears
Charlie Conerly 1948–1961 - Giants
Ronnie Lott 1981–1990 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 43
Jim Norton 1960–1968 Oiler/Titans
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Jersey Number 44
Floyd Little - Denver
Pete Retzlaff 1956–1966 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 45
Ernie Davis - Cleveland
Kenny Easley 1981–1987 - Seahawks
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JerseybNumber 46
Don Fleming - Cleveland
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Jersey Number 49
Bobby Mitchell 1962–1968
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Jersey Number 50
Ken Strong 1936–1947 - Giants
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Jersey Number 51
Dick Butkus 1965–1973 - Bears
Sam Mills - Panthers
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Jersey Number 53
Mick Tingelhoff 1962–1978 - Vikings
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Jersey Number 54
Bob Johnson - Bengals
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Jersey Number 55
Junior Seau 1990–2002 - Chargers
Derrick Brooks 1995–2008 - Bucanneers
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Jersey Number 56
Bill Hewitt 1932–1936 - Bears
Joe Schmidt - Detroit
Lawrence Taylor 1981–1993 - Giants
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Jersey Number 57
Steve Nelson 1974–1987
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Jersey Number 58
Derrick Thomas 1989–1999 - Chiefs
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Jersey Number 60
Chuck Bednarik 1949–1962 - Eagles
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Jersey Number 61
Bill George 1952–1965 - Bears
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Jersey Number 63
Willie Lanier 1967–1977 - Chiefs
Lee Roy Selmon 1976–1984 - Bucanneers
Mike Munchak 1982–1993 - Oilers/Titans
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Jersey Number 65
Elvin Bethea 1968–1983 - Oiler/Titans
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Jersey Number 66
Bulldog Turner 1940–1952 - Bears
Ray Nitschke 1958–1972 - Green Bay
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Jersey Number 70
Art Donovan 1953–1961 - Colts
Jim Marshall 1961–1979 - Vikings
Al Wistert 1944–1951 - Eagles
Ernie Stautner 1950–1963 - Pittsburgh
Charlie Krueger 1959–1973 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 71
Tony Boselli - Jacksonville
Walter Jones 1997–2009 - Seahawks
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Jersey Number 73
John Hannah 1973–1985 - Patriots
Joe Klecko 1977–1987 - Jets
Leo Nomellini 1950–1963 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 74
Merlin Olsen 1962–1976 - Rams
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Jersey Number 75
Deacon Jones 1961–1971 - Rams
Joe Greene 1969–1981 - Pittsburgh
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Jersey Number 76
Lou Groza - Cleveland
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Jersey Number 77
Stan Mauldin - Cardinals
Red Grange 1925–1934 - Bears
Jim Parker 1957–1967 - Colts
Korey Stringer 1995–2000 - Vikings
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Jersey Number 78
Bobby Bell 1963–1974 - Chiefs
Bruce Smith 1985-1999 - Buffalo
Jackie Slater 1976–1995 - Rams
Bruce Armstrong 1987–2000 - Patriots
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Jersey Number 79
Jim Lee Hunt 1960–1970 - Patriots
Bob St. Clair 1953–1963 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 80
Kellen Winslow 1979–1987 - Chargers
Isaac Bruce 1994–2007 - Rams
Cris Carter 1990–2001 - Vikings
Jerry Rice 1985–2000 - 49ers
Steve Largent 1976–1989 - Seahawks
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Jersey Number 82
Raymond Berry 1955–1967 - Colts
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Jersey Number 85
Chris Hughes - Detroit
Jack Youngblood 1971–1984 - Rams
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Jersey Number 86
Buck Buchanan 1963–1975 - Chiefs
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Jersey Number 87
Dwight Clark 1979–1987 - 49ers
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Jersey Number 88
J. V. Cain - Cardinals
Alan Page 1967–1978 - Vikings
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Jersey Number 89
Mike Ditka 1961-1966 - Bears
Gino Marchetti 1953–1966 - Colts
Bob Dee 1960–1967 - Patriots
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Jersey Number 90
Dennis Byrd 1989–1992 - Jets
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Jersey Number 92
Reggie White 1993–1998 - Green Bay and Eagles
Michael Strahan 1993–2007 - Giants
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Jersey Number 96
Cortez Kennedy 1990–2000 - Seahawks
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Jersey Number 99
Marshall Goldberg - Cardinals
Jerome Brown 1987–1991 - Eagles
Warren Sapp 1995–2003 - Bucanneers
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common retired NFL number? The number 12 has 5 legendary QBs, and one fan base represents what the teams have retired the number 12.
