6 Chiefs players who could switch to their college jersey numbers in 2021 – Yahoo Sports

April 9, 2021 News Editor

The Kansas City Chiefs recently proposed a rule to loosen the restrictions on jersey numbers. According to a report from NBC Sports’ Peter King, that proposal is expected to be passed when the NFL owners next gather for a vote.

The rule would expand the usage of certain numbers, allowing running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs to wears numbers 1 through 19, which were previously reserved for quarterbacks, punters and kickers. It’d make things a bit more closely resemble the rules that they use in college football and it’d allow a lot of players to switch back to those previously worn numbers.

Here’s a look at what the new rules would entail:

Quarterback, Punter/Kicker: 1-19 (unchanged)
Running back, wide receivers, tight ends: 1-49, 80-89
Offensive linemen: 50-79
Defensive linemen: 50-79, 90-99
Linebacker: 1-59, 90-99
Defensive backs: 1-49

We already know that Tyrann Mathieu is not going to wear his No. 7 from LSU, but who are some of the other players for Kansas City who could switch back to their college numbers?

Here’s a look at six players who could be willing to make the switch:

WR Mecole Hardman – No. 4

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We last saw Mecole Hardman wear the No. 4 during the 2018 Sugar Bowl against Texas. He’s spent the past two seasons wearing the No. 17 in Kansas City, so making the switch back to his college number probably wouldn’t be all that difficult of a decision. https://twitter.com/MecoleHardman4/status/1380193187403345928

LB Willie Gay Jr. – No. 6

AP Photo/Michael Woods

Gay Jr. has only spent one season in Kansas City wearing the No. 50 and it doesn’t seem like he has grown too attached to it. Instead, it looks like has some interest in going back to his college number, No. 6, once the new rule officially passes. https://twitter.com/WillieG___/status/1377635011067850759

WR Byron Pringle – No. 9

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Pringle has spent a few seasons with the Chiefs wearing the No. 13 jersey. He’s poised to take a more prominent role within the offense during 2021 given the departure of Sammy Watkins. That could be a good reason to make the switch back to the No. 9 jersey.

CB L’Jarius Sneed – No. 1

AP Photo/Eric Gay

Sneed wore the No. 24 and the No. 1 jersey’s during his time at Louisiana Tech, but he wears the No. 38 in Kansas City. It’d be quite the power move to grab the No. 1 jersey, especially with Sneed expected to take on a more prominent role on defense in 2021.

RB Darwin Thompson – No. 5

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Thompson started with No. 25, but gave it up when LeSean McCoy joined the team in 2019. He switched to the No. 34 and has worn that for the past two seasons in Kansas City. Neither of those numbers has truly felt right for Thompson. I could definitely see him going back to the No. 5 jersey that he wore at Utah State.

CB Charvarius Ward – No. 2

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Ward has come a long way since his days at Middle Tennessee State and he’s worn the No. 35 with the Chiefs for the past three seasons. I’m not sure how interested he’d be in switching back to his old No. 2 jersey, but that blast from the past could be a good way to remind him and motivate him for the future.