American football / Rule 05
Players and equipment
NFL · 2026In short
Team size, substitutions and protective equipment.
Eleven on the field
Each team plays with 11 players. Any number of substitutes may enter while the ball is dead, but substitution during a live play is illegal. Before the two-minute warning, offensive substitutions normally give the defense a reasonable opportunity to respond; special matching rules also apply in other situations.
Uniform and eligibility
Mandatory protective equipment includes a helmet, shoulder pads, and prescribed thigh and knee pads. Uniform numbers and formation affect eligibility to receive a forward pass. A player changing to an eligibility status inconsistent with his number must report it to the referee, who informs the defense. Equipment compliance remains the team’s responsibility.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent summaries of the supplied NFL 2026 rulebook; NCAA and IFAF rules may differ. The comparison covers standard 15-a-side rugby union.
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