Steelers already looking to trade jersey numbers with new NFL rule

It didn't take the Steelers' players long to get in on the fun of speculating what new numbers they might wear with the NFL's new jersey rule.

The proposed new rule by the Chiefs was passed by the NFL Thursday, expanding jersey number options for skill position players. The point was to help manage rosters with expanded practice squads in the NFL, as restrictions on skill players' numbers was becoming difficult for some teams to manage.

Because of the new rule, running backs, tight ends, fullbacks, H-backs and wide receivers can wear numbers 1-49 and 80-89. Safeties and cornerbacks can choose from 1-49, while linebackers can pick 1-59 and 90-99. Offensive linemen can still pick 50-79 while defensive linemen 50-79 and 90-99. Previously only quarterbacks, kickers and punters were allowed single-digit jersey numbers, but those groups can still wear numbers between 1-19.

That makes the rules closer to that of high school and college football where less restrictions on jersey numbers has always been part of the culture. And now, some NFL players are getting into the idea.

Especially some Steelers. Here's JuJu Smith-Schuster's idea of switching back to his college No. 9, which would require him talking to Chris Boswell:

Other Steelers like Devin Bush don't have that problem as his old No. 10 from his Michigan days is wide open. He made a more subtle post on Instagram Thursday, joking around about how he'd look while picking his new jersey number.

But Joe Haden took it a step further. After not playing college football since he was drafted out of Florida in 2010, his old No. 5 jersey still had interest to him coming back, which of course conflicts with Josh Dobbs' number. He jokingly asked about that on Twitter:

And funny enough, Dobbs seemed open to the idea:

While some NFL athletes like Tom Brady hate the idea, the concept of opening up jersey numbers does seem to get plenty of players interested.