NFL Rules Concerning the Use of Artificial Limbs

Athletes with prosthetic or artificial limbs compete in several sports at the professional level. Baseball and track events are two common sports that athletes with artificial limbs participate in and often excel. It is uncommon to find players in the NFL with artificial limbs, but it does happen from time to time, and there are NFL rules concerning players artificial limbs.

  1. Artificial Limbs Allowed

    • The NFL allows athletes with artificial limbs to play in the league. Nowhere in the NFL rulebook does it indicate that artificial limbs are not allowed on the field. Artificial limbs may limit a player's ability to play certain positions; a quarterback with an artificial arm may have trouble throwing the ball under the pressure of an NFL defense. It is rare to see a player with an artificial limb play in the NFL, but the league permits it nonetheless.

    Unfair Advantage

    • A variety of artificial limbs exist in the sporting world. One of the most popular types of artificial legs, especially for sprinters, is the "Cheetah Leg," popularized by Oscar Pistorius, a sprinter from South Africa. The Cheetah Leg is a J-shaped artificial leg designed to function like running cheetah. The Cheetah Leg is not permitted in the NFL, nor are any other prosthetics that do not resemble natural limbs. Artificial limbs in the NFL must resemble natural limbs and must not give athletes an unfair advantage.

    Tom Dempsey Rule

    • Tom Dempsey was a kicker in the NFL for 11 seasons, and has the record for the longest field goal made by a kicker - 63 yards - which he accomplished in 1970. The record has been tied, but not broken as of July 2010. Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot (his kicking foot). When he played, Dempsey wore a shoe on his right kicking foot that had a flat front end. In 1977, the NFL introduced the Tom Dempsey Rule, stating that shoes worn by kickers with artificial limbs on their kicking legs must have a kicking surface that resembles a normal kicking shoe. In other words, kickers cannot wear modified shoes on their kicking feet if they have an artificial limb.