NFL · Youth Fit Guide

NFL Youth Jersey Sizing: From Kids to Toddlers

Updated September 25, 2026 · 7 min read

1. How the youth cut differs from the adult shirt

Most NFL jerseys you see photographed are the unisex men’s build: a straight, boxy cut with a roomy chest and a longer hem, made to be worn over shoulder pads. The youth version keeps the same team colours, crests and fonts but reshapes the shirt for a kid:

• Shorter sleeves — the arms are cut to proportion, so the cuffs sit at the wrist instead of past the hand.
• Trimmer body — the side seams taper in, removing the pad allowance so the shirt doesn’t swallow a small frame.
• Softer hand-feel — the Game fabric is lighter and the neck is looser, which makes it easier for a child to pull on and off.
• Same numbering — Game youth jerseys use screen-printed names and numbers, exactly like the men’s Game shirt.

Youth tops out at Youth XL. Once a teenager outgrows that — roughly a 38–40 inch chest — the right move is the men’s Small, which is unisex and only a little boxier. If you want a shaped women’s fit instead, see the note at the end of this guide.

2. Youth NFL size chart (inches)

These are the Nike Game youth measurements we stock against. Chest is taken under the arms at the fullest point; body length is from the highest shoulder point to the hem. If your child is between two sizes, go up one — a little growing room beats a shirt they can’t button over a hoodie.

For the full league-by-league comparison — NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and soccer side by side — see our league size chart.

3. Toddler size chart (2T–5T)

For the youngest fans, toddler jerseys are scaled right down and cut a touch generous so they fit over a onesie. Toddler sizes run by age rather than chest, and they sit a little big — size down if your toddler is between two.

Not every team offers a toddler cut, but the custom team jerseys do — so you can dress a baby in any club’s colours. (For the stitching-and-fabric differences in plain English, our authentic vs replica guide breaks it down.)

4. How to measure your child

Two numbers get you the right youth size. Grab a soft tape and don’t pull it tight:

1. Chest: wrap the tape under the arms at the fullest part of the chest, keeping it level across the back.
2. Body length: measure from the highest point of the shoulder straight down to where you want the hem — most kids like it at the hip.
3. Compare both numbers with the charts above; if the chest sits between two sizes, choose the larger for growing room.
4. Don’t translate to adult. The youth cut already carries ease for layering, so a kid who wears a men’s Small is usually a Youth XL, not a Youth M.

Prefer a different club? We carry youth cuts across the league — including the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons.

5. When to size up to the men’s cut

Youth and men’s jerseys are not the same label — a Youth XL is smaller than a men’s Small. Use this as a rule of thumb:

The good news: every youth jersey here is also stocked in the men’s Game cut for the same team, and most teams offer a women’s cut too — so a family of four can wear matching colours in four different fits.

6. Real youth jerseys you can shop

Six in-stock youth NFL jerseys — team custom builds and star-player shirts — ready to ship:

In stock · Youth cutChicago Bears Youth Alternate Custom Game Jersey - OrangeYouth NFL jersey · $57.60View jerseyIn stock · Youth cutTampa Bay Buccaneers Youth Custom Game Jersey - RedYouth NFL jersey · $57.60View jerseyIn stock · Youth cutCameron Ward Tennessee Titans Youth Game Jersey - WhiteYouth NFL jersey · $57.60View jerseyIn stock · Youth cutJoe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals Youth Replica Jersey - BlackYouth NFL jersey · $54.70View jerseyIn stock · Youth cutT.J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers Youth Game Jersey - BlackYouth NFL jersey · $57.60View jerseyIn stock · Youth cutAtlanta Falcons Youth Custom Game Jersey - WhiteYouth NFL jersey · $57.60View jersey

Frequently asked questions