In American sports, having your jersey number retired is one of the highest honors a player can receive. It is a permanent recognition of their contribution to a franchise, ensuring that future generations of players cannot wear the same number.
But as decades of sporting history accumulate, some franchises are beginning to face an unusual problem: they are running out of jersey numbers to choose from.
Lucky Rebel analyzed the jersey numbers officially retired by all 94 current NFL, NBA and NHL franchises to identify the teams that have honored the most players, those with the fewest numbers remaining, and the most frequently retired numbers across American sports.
The research also examined franchise history, championships, Hall of Fame players and the frequency of jersey retirements to explore how different teams celebrate their sporting legends.
Which Sports Teams Have Retired the Most Jersey Numbers?
The Boston Celtics lead the rankings, having officially retired 23 unique jersey numbers — more than any other NFL, NBA or NHL franchise.
With 22.8% of their theoretical number pool retired, the Celtics have just 78 numbers remaining when accounting for league-wide restrictions.
The Montreal Canadiens rank second, with 15 unique numbers retired, followed by the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Lakers, which have each retired 14.
The 10 Sports Teams With the Most Retired Jersey Numbers
Boston Celtics Have Retired More Jersey Numbers Than Any Other Franchise
The Boston Celtics stand comfortably ahead of the competition, with 23 officially retired jersey numbers.
The NBA franchise has celebrated some of basketball’s greatest figures, including Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
The Celtics have also retired numbers in honor of influential figures who shaped the organization beyond their playing careers, including legendary coach and executive Red Auerbach.
With 18 championships recorded in the study and 38 Hall of Fame players associated with the franchise, Boston’s extensive collection of retired jerseys reflects its extraordinary basketball history.
However, the tradition comes at a cost.
According to our research, the Celtics have already retired nearly a quarter of their theoretical jersey-number pool, leaving just 78 numbers available after accounting for league-wide restrictions.
While this does not mean the franchise is in immediate danger of running out of numbers, it highlights how decades of success can gradually reduce the choices available to future players.
Montreal Canadiens Lead the NHL
The Montreal Canadiens have retired 15 unique jersey numbers, placing them second across all three leagues and first in the NHL.
Interestingly, those 15 numbers honor 18 individuals, demonstrating how some franchises have retired the same number in recognition of multiple players.
With 23 championships recorded in the dataset, the Canadiens have one of the richest histories in professional hockey.
The Toronto Maple Leafs demonstrate a similar tradition, having honored 19 individuals through the retirement of just 13 unique jersey numbers.
This distinction matters when assessing which teams are running out of numbers: honoring multiple players with the same number does not reduce the available pool any further.
Chicago Bears Lead the NFL
The Chicago Bears have retired 14 jersey numbers, more than any other NFL franchise.
The New York Giants follow with 13 unique numbers retired, while the San Francisco 49ers rank third with 12.
The Bears’ position reflects more than a century of football history, with the franchise’s first season dating back to 1920.
However, the NFL’s larger roster sizes make jersey availability particularly relevant. Teams must accommodate players across numerous positions, with number eligibility also governed by league rules.
As a result, the number of theoretically available jerseys does not necessarily reflect how many numbers are practical options for every player.
Which Sports Teams Have the Fewest Jersey Numbers Remaining?
The Celtics also lead the ranking of franchises with the fewest jersey numbers theoretically available.
Their 78 remaining numbers place them ahead of the Montreal Canadiens, whose 15 retired numbers and the NHL-wide retirement of No. 99 leave 83 numbers available.
The Chicago Bears have 86 numbers remaining, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers with 86.
Although the Bears and Lakers have the same number of remaining options, the NBA and NFL use different number pools and league-wide retirement rules.
The findings illustrate how retirement traditions can gradually restrict jersey availability, particularly for franchises with long histories.
However, none of the teams analyzed is close to exhausting its entire theoretical number pool.
Which Sports Teams Have Never Retired a Jersey Number?
While some franchises have retired more than a dozen jersey numbers, others have never officially retired a single one.
The study identified nine franchises across the NFL, NBA and NHL with no officially retired numbers.
These include six NFL teams, one NBA franchise and two NHL teams.
Teams With No Officially Retired Jersey Numbers
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion is the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite being one of the NFL’s most recognisable franchises, the Cowboys have never officially retired a jersey number.
Instead, the organization has traditionally celebrated its greatest players through other forms of recognition, including its Ring of Honor.
The Los Angeles Clippers are another notable example, standing as the only NBA franchise in the dataset without an officially retired number.
These findings demonstrate that a lack of retired jerseys does not necessarily indicate a lack of sporting legends. Some organizations simply follow different traditions when recognizing their greatest players.
What Are the Most Commonly Retired Jersey Numbers in American Sports?
Across the NFL, NBA and NHL, certain jersey numbers appear far more frequently in retirement ceremonies than others.
According to Lucky Rebel’s research, Nos. 7 and 9 are tied as the most commonly retired jersey numbers, with each retired by 20 franchises.
No. 4 follows closely behind, having been retired by 19 teams.
The 10 Most Commonly Retired Jersey Numbers
Hockey plays a particularly significant role in the popularity of Nos. 7 and 9.
Of the 20 franchises that have retired No. 9, 12 are NHL teams. Similarly, 11 NHL franchises have retired No. 7.
Basketball has its own retirement traditions.
No. 32 has been retired by 12 NBA franchises, making it one of the most frequently honoured numbers in basketball.
Meanwhile, No. 12 is particularly notable for its consistency across all three sports, having been retired by exactly six NFL teams, six NBA teams and six NHL teams.
These patterns reflect the different histories and sporting icons associated with each number.
Why Do Some Teams Retire More Jerseys Than Others?
Franchise age is one important factor in determining how many jersey numbers a team has retired.
Older organizations have had more opportunities to develop legendary players, win championships and establish traditions around recognizing sporting achievements.
The Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Bears are examples of historic franchises with extensive collections of retired numbers.
However, longevity alone does not explain every result.
The Phoenix Suns, founded in 1968, have retired 12 unique jersey numbers despite having no championships recorded in the study.
That puts Phoenix ahead of several older franchises with more championship success.
Similarly, the Portland Trail Blazers have retired 11 unique numbers, demonstrating that teams do not necessarily need multiple championships to build an extensive tradition of honoring former players.
The findings suggest that jersey retirement policies are influenced by a combination of sporting success, franchise history and organizational culture.
Some teams reserve the honour for a select group of individuals, while others take a broader approach to celebrating those who have contributed to their history.
Are American Sports Teams Really Running Out of Jersey Numbers?
Despite the headline figures, the research does not suggest that any NFL, NBA or NHL franchise is facing an immediate jersey-number shortage.
Even the Boston Celtics, who have retired more unique numbers than any other team analyzed, still have 78 theoretically available.
However, the situation becomes more complicated when considering the restrictions governing which numbers players can actually wear.
The NFL, for example, applies positional eligibility rules that limit the numbers available to players in certain roles.
The NBA and NHL also have league-wide jersey retirements.
In 2022, the NBA retired No. 6 across the league in honor of Bill Russell, while the NHL retired No. 99 in recognition of Wayne Gretzky.
These restrictions mean that jersey availability is not determined solely by a franchise’s individual retirement decisions.
For teams with particularly long histories, the challenge could become more significant over time as additional sporting legends receive the honour.
Ultimately, retired jersey numbers represent more than a logistical consideration.
They are a permanent reminder of the players, coaches and other influential figures who have shaped a franchise’s identity.
And while future generations may have fewer numbers to choose from, the tradition ensures that some of the most important figures in American sporting history will never be forgotten.
Methodology
Sports betting platform Lucky Rebel analyzed officially retired jersey numbers across all 94 current NFL, NBA and NHL franchises as of October 2026.
The research examined franchise and league records, Hall of Fame information and historical statistics to identify the teams with the most retired numbers, those with the fewest remaining and the most frequently retired jersey numbers across the three leagues.
The analysis counted officially retired numbers, including those inherited from previous franchise names or locations where the current organization continues to recognize them.
Unofficially withheld numbers, Ring of Honor inductions and retirement ceremonies announced but not yet held were excluded.
The number of theoretically available jerseys was calculated using each league’s number pool:
- NFL: 0–99 (100 numbers).
- NBA: 0–99 and 00 (101 numbers), accounting for the league-wide retirement of No. 6.
- NHL: 1–99 (99 numbers), accounting for the league-wide retirement of No. 99.
Where multiple individuals were honored with the same jersey number, that number was counted only once when calculating availability.
The research also considered franchise age, championships, Hall of Fame representation and retirement frequency to examine differences in how teams recognize their sporting legends.