All the Rules You Probably Didn't Know NFL Players Have to Follow

Since its inception back in 1920, watching the NFL has been one of America's favorite pastimes, and fans might be surprised by how many rules players have to abide by. Some may seem basic, while others are more extreme. But it's all to maintain the perfect image and keep the love of the game alive amongst players and viewers. Here are just some of the rules you probably didn't know football players have to follow.

Getting dressed for game day isn't as simple as you might think. It turns out, the NFL has several rules dedicated to how players have to dress before, during, and after games.

Numbers are assigned based on a players' position—unlike other sports, where players have the ability to choose what number they wear. For example, if you're the quarterback, you can only choose a number between 1-19.

The NFL maintains this rule due to safety precautions and professionalism.

The official rule from the NFL states that players must wear pants that cover the entire knee area, without having to shorten or roll them up.

According to the official uniform policy statement, players must wear approved team color socks "from mid-calf to the bottom of the pant leg."

And they can only use the 6 inch by 8 inch size towel specially issued by the NFL—no personal messages, logos, or names are allowed on it.

Aside from helmets and headbands to keep sweat and hair back, players aren't allowed to don bandanas during a game, even if it's under the helmet.

This rule is definitely a weird one, but it's in place because it can be used as leverage in attempting to block a kick or pass.

But only during warmup, and as long as the NFL and their respective teams approve of the intended design, and they're placed on an NFL standard football cleat.

This rule came to light when DeAngelo Williams walked on the field in 2015 and honored his mother, a breast cancer survivor, with the message "find the cure" on his eye blacks. While the gesture was for a good cause, the league slapped him with a fine just shy of $6,000 for breaking this rule.

But restrictions still apply. When players wanted to represent the Black Lives Matter movement during the 2020-2021 season, the league allowed them to use one of four pre-approved phrases on their helmets/caps.

This includes baseball caps, jewelry (like this cross earring on offensive tackle Morgan Moses), sunglasses, and other accessories that could be deemed unnecessary to the game.

If a player wants to don a different mask than the one issued by the league, he must have a report submitted by a doctor before it is allowed.

And while wearing a mask amid COVID-19 might not be so comfortable in the middle of a game, the NFL strongly encourages its players to wear them.

This includes players, coaches, and staff. Anyone who's part of the team must wear a mask this season.

There's only one good reason a player has for missing a meeting, and that's if he's sick, hurt, and/or a doctor signs off on it. If not, it could result in a fine.

If players end up oversleeping and missing practice, they could face a steep fine.

The reason for this? It could be viewed as disrespectful towards the opposing team. The consequence could be a fine or a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

This is in the same vein as no spinning the ball after a touchdown. Certain salutes can look like you're taunting the other team, which is against NFL rules.

This rule should be a given, but sometimes even longtime players don't understand how moves like twerking can lead to league commissioners levying a fine.

Is it obvious yet just how much the NFL has issues with touchdown celebrations? In this case, the league believes that anything that could be considered a prop is illegal for players to use during touchdowns. And guess what's on the list of "props"? A goalpost.

What does this mean exactly? A player can't point finger guns or do bow-and-arrow motions after scoring a touchdown, for instance.

Perhaps trying to show that it's not the "No Fun League," the NFL now allows players to celebrate more excessively (but still within limits) than in years past.

One such medicine players aren't allowed to take before games? Adderall, unless it's with a doctor's permission. While its use is to treat ADHD, it's been widely reported over the years that players sometimes abuse the drug to help them focus during games.

This should be the most obvious rule, but, well, sometimes it isn't.

Among the rules: Players can't touch a wide receiver after five yards unless they're making a play with the ball. If they do, they'll be assessed a 5-yard penalty.

If they do, their team can get penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

There are also expectations from their respective teams on how to behave on and off the field. One example? Players are expected to wear suits as they arrive on gameday.

But the rules became slightly more relaxed when Canadian whisky company Crown Royal partnered with some NFL players (including DeMarcus Ware and Ed Reed) in 2018 to promote responsible alcohol consumption on game days.

...think of it almost like a retirement plan for NFL stars. For every fine a player has to pay, none of the funds actually end up going to the league. Instead, the money goes towards programs for former players in need, like the NFL Foundation.