Who can catch a forward pass, and what do jersey numbers have to do with it?

On offence (Team A), eligibility is shown by jersey number:

• Eligible receivers wear numbers 0 to 49 and 70 to 99.
• Ineligible receivers wear numbers 50 to 69.

Every defensive (Team B) player is an eligible receiver.

An eligible-number player must, at the snap, be at the end of the line of scrimmage, at least one yard back of it in the backfield, or in forward motion from a backfield position and within one yard of the line of scrimmage.

2026 change: a team may designate a maximum of three players wearing an ineligible number (50 to 69) to line up in an eligible position, as an end or in the backfield. The player must report to the Referee before each play in which they want to play an eligible position, and the Referee informs the defence and all officials. If an ineligible receiver is the first Team A player to catch or deliberately touch the ball, the penalty is 10 yards or an incomplete pass (the 2026 rules added the incomplete-pass option).

Also, the Long Snapper and the two players immediately on each side of the Long Snapper and/or the ball can wear any number, but they are ineligible receivers for that play.