Viewers tuning in to watch football are likely to see plenty of brawn and brute strength, but the one thing that won’t be visible is the players’ bare legs. Since 1945, the NFL has mandated that players cover every inch of their legs, via some combination of pants, stockings or socks. The current rules, as outlined in the official NFL rule book, state that leg coverings “must cover the entire area from the shoe to the bottom of the pants” and conform to the colors approved by the league. Skin exposure of the lower leg and ankle area due to improper wear of game socks is prohibited throughout the game. The only exception is for kickers who prefer to go barefoot, though there hasn’t been one of those in years. That doesn’t mean some skin doesn’t peek through from time to time. It happens occasionally as the result of strenuous play, and it’s mostly tolerated. However, failure to wear the appropriate leg coverings can — and has — resulted in fines. When the rule was implemented in 1945, then-NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden thought players had “unsightly legs.” That proved to be true in 2013, when Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers (pictured below) rushed for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Atlantic Falcons with his bare legs showing. When confronted, Gore admitted he was too preoccupied with the game to pay attention to his socks. “I was wrong. Next time, I’ll do better,” he said. Rules regarding leg coverings have remained on the books for nearly 80 years, so it’s unlikely viewers will see any legs at NFL games in the future.
