After a couple weeks of browsing, New York Giants first-round pick Abdul Carter selected the No. 51 jersey off the rack of available digits on Friday.
The 21-year-old outside linebacker, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, flirted with the idea of wearing the retired jersey numbers of a couple of Hall of Famers before making his choice.
Franchise legend Lawrence Taylor rebuffed Carter’s request to bring his No. 56 out of retirement, politely telling the rookie to “be the player that he is.”
“He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor,” Taylor said to ESPN two days after the draft. “Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.”
Carter then pivoted to No. 11, the number he wore as an All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State.
That jersey number also is retired by New York in honor of quarterback Phil Simms, who said he initially was receptive to the idea. However, he was “outvoted” by his family, he told the New York Daily News.
That rejection prompted Carter to make a joke about whether he would ever find a number.
“Damn at this point imma be out there with just my last name on my jersey, no number (laughing emojis),” Carter posted on X. “Jkjk, It’s all Love. Just wanna play Football!”
Linebacker Azeez Ojulari wore No. 51 from 2021-24 but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason.
The most decorated player in Giants history to wear the number was two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowl long snapper Zak DeOssie from 2007-19.
The Giants announced the jersey numbers for the rest of their rookie class: QB Jaxson Dart (6), DT Darius Alexander (91), RB Cam Skattebo (44), OL Marcus Mbow (71), TE Thomas Fidone II (86) and CB Korie Black (25).
