How Many Players Are On An NFL Team?
How many players are on an NFL team? This question is often asked by those who are new to the sport of football. The answer is that there are 53 players on an NFL team, including the 11 starters on offense and defense.
The Roster
The number of players on an NFL team depends on the league the team is in. For example, the NFL has 53 active roster spots, while the CFL has 45. The team’s coaching staff also affects the number of players on the roster.
The Active Roster
An NFL team’s roster is composed of 46 players. These players are either on the “active roster,” meaning they are eligible to play on game day, or they are on the “inactive list.” Each team is required to declare seven inactive players prior to each game.
The Inactive Roster
An NFL team has 53 active players on its roster, but only 46 of those are eligible to play in a given week. The remaining seven players are inactive and do not dress for the game. While a team’s inactive list is usually composed of players who are injured or not playing well, it also includes healthy scratches. These are talented players who simply aren’t needed that week because the coaching staff believes there are better options available.
The Practice Squad
An NFL practice squad is a group of up to 10 players signed by each individual team to fill out their practice squads. These are players who are not on the active roster, but can be called up at any time during the season. Usually, practice squad players are young and/or inexperienced, and are looking to make a name for themselves in the league.
Each team is allowed to have up to 4 veterans on their practice squad, meaning players with any amount of NFL experience can be signed to the practice squad. However, these veterans can only be signed for a maximum of 2 weeks during the season.
The 53-Man Roster
An NFL team’s roster is composed of 53 active players and 10 practice squad players. Of the 53 active players, 46 dress and participate in games. The remaining seven inactive players are healthy but are not allowed to play.
