Abdul Carter, the New York Giants’ top draft pick, found himself in a unique situation when trying to claim a uniform number. After expressing interest in wearing the iconic No. 56, previously worn by Hall of Fame linebacker Taylor, Carter was politely advised to make his own mark on the field.
Things took an interesting turn when former Giants quarterback Phil Simms offered to unretire his own No. 11, suggesting that Carter or fellow first-round pick Jaxson Dart could wear it. “I’d let him have it in a second,” Simms said on FanDuel TV, emphasizing that it would be a fun gesture. Carter, who wore No. 11 at Penn State, responded on social media saying, “It would be an HONOR.”
However, the offer was short-lived, as Simms later revealed that his family had voted against unretiring the number. “My No. 11 will remain retired,” Simms confirmed.
Carter, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, now jokingly wonders which number will appear on his Giants jersey this season. Unretiring numbers isn’t unheard of, as last year’s first-round pick Malik Nabers was allowed to wear the late Ray Flaherty’s No. 1.
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