My son asked me a good question tonight, how come so many of the Pats receivers have low uniform numbers?
Edelman 11
Cooks 14
Hogan 15
Mitchell 19
Dorsett 13
Slater 18
Is there any particular reason?
There are actually NFL rules that dictate the distribution of numbers by position. I think this is partly to help with officiating WRT eligible/ineligible receivers and downfield blockers on offense, but probably helps officials in other ways, too.
ONLY QBs and K/P can use the numbers 1-9.
WRs are restricted to the numbers 10-19 and 80-89. The only other positions that can use the 10-19 range are QBs and K/P.
TEs are restricted to the numbers 40-49 and 80-89. However, RBs, LBs and DBs are also allowed to wear numbers in the 40-49 range while only WRs and TEs are allowed the 80-89 range.
Bottom line is that the Pats apparently prefer to use 80-89 for TEs and 10-19 for WRs and 40-49 for other positions when they can.
SIDE NOTE: #89 is among the Pats' retired numbers. It belonged to defensive end, Bob Dee, who played for the Boston Patriots from 1960-1967 -- back in the days when uniform numbering was, um, less uniform (the numbering system was first formalized in the early 70s - after the merger - IIRC).
Anyway, the numbering list (since 2015) is:
1-9 = QB, K/P only
10-19 = QB, K/P + WR
20-39 = RB & DB only
40-49 = RB, TE, LB, DB
50-59 = LB, DL & OL (restricted to Centers with rare exception)
60-79 = DL & OL only
80-89 = TE & WR only
90-99 = DL & LB only
The range of numbers allotted to each position somewhat reflects how many players a team may typically carry at each position.
The list sorted by positional designation:
QB & K/P = 1-19 = 20 possible numbers
WR = 10-19 + 80-89 = 20 numbers
TE = 40-49 + 80-89 = 20 numbers
RB = 20-49 = 30 numbers
OL = 50-79 = 30 numbers
DL = 50-79 + 90-99 = 40 numbers
LB = 40-59 + 90-99 = 30 numbers
DB = 20-49 = 30 numbers
