Justin Fields rocked an unusual style during his inaugural Pittsburgh Steelers photo shoot , as he proudly donned the famous black and yellow uniform for the first time. But he won't be able to use his short pants in any games due to a little-known NFL policy that's frustrated players in the past.
Fields sported an entire game-day look during his inaugural photo shoot, complete with a full uniform, helmet, and taped ankles. However, upon closer inspection, the length of the QB's pants didn't quite meet the NFL's official policy requirements.
While a minor detail for a photo shoot, the NFL takes its appearance regulations seriously. According to the NFL's Game Operations Manual, a player's appearance on the field reflects the league's image and reputation.
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The manual specifies that: "Players must tuck in their jerseys, refrain from wearing bandannas, and ensure that their stockings meet specific color and length requirements. Specifically, stockings must be white from the top of the shoe to midcalf and in an approved team color from midcalf to the bottom of the pant leg, extending below the knee." Neither Fields' socks nor pants met the league requirements on gameday.
In a notable example, Matt Gay, the former kicker for the Rams, learned this the hard way during the season opener against the Bills in 2022. After scoring a 57-yard field goal to end the half, Gay faced a penalty for his pants not covering his knees adequately. The seemingly minor infraction resulted in a $5,000 fine. Similarly, Odell Beckham Jr . felt the league's wrath in October 2019 when he was fined $14,000 for wearing pants deemed too short during a game.
"I think it's crazy," said Beckham after accepting the penalty. "The NFL finds ways to just take it [player's money]. I understand a penalty, getting fined for that."
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"But pants above the knees, a shirt hanging out -- and we're talking about a T-shirt that cost $5 to make, and you're getting $5,000 taken from you," he continued. "Pads above your knees, and I'm like, 'You really think that this little knee pad covering my kneecap is going to affect, if somebody hits me, weighs 250 pounds, running 18 mph.' I don't do physics, but if I get hit, this will not protect me."
Fields took to Instagram to announce his jersey number for the upcoming season with the Pittsburgh Steelers: No. 2. The young quarterback, who was traded to the Steelers in March 2024, shared his excitement for the new chapter in his career.
The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick. The selection could become a fourth-round pick if Fields meets a specific playing time threshold in the 2024 season. The trade was part of the Bears strategy to plan a franchise reset at the quarterback position, after selecting former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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