You sometimes hear that N.F.L. stands for “No Fun League,” and the nickname has hung around because it resonates. Restrictions on celebrations and rules about shirt-tucking can sometimes make the league seem a little like an authoritarian boarding school.
In recent years, the N.F.L. has loosened its school tie a bit. More elaborate touchdown celebrations were authorized a few years back. And now players have at least some more leeway in what numbers they wear since the league approved a rule change on Wednesday.
In the past, players were limited to a fairly small range of numbers, dependent on their position.