The slit is noticeable only when players' jerseys become untucked during games, but even though it's unseen most of the time, it has a very specific and useful purpose. The split in the back of the jersey -- which football equipment coordinator Tino Dominguez has dubbed the "crotch cut" -- provides more comfort for players when tucking their jerseys in. Because the back of the jersey is longer than the front, the cut prevents the tucked-in jersey from fitting awkwardly near the crotch.
"That way, it fits comfortably down the leg and doesn't bunch up," Dominguez said.
The game-day jersey has gone through an evolution in recent years, Dominguez said. It used to be cut evenly all the way around the bottom of the jersey, which would wreak havoc for players when they tucked it in. And before that, the jersey was like a diaper, with a flap coming around from the back, under the crotch and fastening to the front. Dominguez said that didn't last long, as it caused massive discomfort for the players.
But now with the technological and comfort-based advances, jerseys feature the "crotch cut" that you'll occasionally see when players' jerseys become untucked on game days this fall.
With the back of his jersey featuring the "crotch cut" for the sake of comfort, safety Taylor Mays (left) helps make a tackle during the Rose Bowl. [Photo courtesy of Getty Images]
