The NFL announced on Wednesday evening that all rookies on a 53-man roster to start the season will wear an “NFL PREM1ERE” patch on their jerseys in Week 1 to commemorate their first game in the league.
“An NFL rookie’s first game marks an unforgettable occasion in his football experience and we are excited to preserve this moment and honor this milestone,” executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said.
Any rookie who makes their debut later in the season will wear the same patch during their first game. The jerseys will then be gifted to the rookie, whereas the league typically charges players $500 if they swap their jerseys after a game.
A similar patch was used by Major League Baseball this season, though the “MLB Debut” patches were created by Fanatics and Topps specifically for inclusion on trading cards.
The “NFL PREM1ERE” patches will make their first on-field appearance when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions on Thursday (8:20 p.m. on NBC).