Denied by two Giants legends, what number will Abdul Carter wear now?

Abdul Carter is still looking for his New York Giants jersey number, but not for lack of trying.
The No. 3 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, who was drafted as a highly touted linebacker from Penn State, had his eyes on the jersey numbers worn by two of the most revered figures in Giants history: Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms. However, both legends have made it clear that their iconic numbers are off-limits.
Both numbers have been officially retired by the Giants for years, so Carter needed their permission to unretire them.
Carter’s first choice was No. 56, the number famously worn by Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Taylor, who played for the Giants from 1981 to 1993 and revolutionized the linebacker position, is widely considered one of the greatest players to ever wear the Giants uniform. No Giant has worn the number since Taylor retired with 142 career sacks.
During an interview on draft night, Carter expressed his desire to wear No. 56, saying it would be an honor to carry on the legacy of the man who helped define the franchise’s defensive identity.
However, Taylor quickly turned down the request. In an interview with the New York Post, Taylor explained his decision:
“I know he would love to wear that number. But, hey, I think it’s retired. Get another number. I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.”
Taylor’s response was both firm and polite, urging Carter to select a different number and make it his own, regardless of its history.
Carter took the rejection in stride, maintaining a respectful attitude:

After the setback with Taylor, Carter turned his attention to No. 11, the number he wore during his college days at Penn State. However, that number has also been retired by the Giants, as it belonged to another franchise legend: Phil Simms.
Simms, the quarterback who led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories and retired as the team’s all-time passing leader (a record later surpassed by Eli Manning), seemed to be open to the idea of Carter wearing No. 11. In a conversation on Friday, Simms stated that he would have no problem letting either Carter or the Giants’ quarterback of the future, Jaxson Dart (who was also selected in the 2025 Draft), wear his iconic number. However, he also said his inner circle might not approve:
“I’d let him have it in a second. I think it would be a lot of fun. It wouldn’t bother me.
“If they really want it — but, my wife, I don’t know if my family’s said anything. The boys didn’t say anything. But my agent, ‘Don’t you dare give up that jersey number!’ Well, first off, I don’t think Abdul Carter’s gonna ask for it. But if he would have, if it was up to me, I probably would give it to him.”
Unlike Taylor, Simms seemed genuinely open to the idea of passing on his number, but there was a catch. When Simms later spoke with veteran journalist Gary Myers, he revealed that his family had overruled him. Simms admitted that after discussing it with his loved ones, he was “outvoted,” and Carter would not be getting No. 11 after all.
Carter, however, took the news with good humor, demonstrating once again his easygoing attitude:

With both No. 56 and No. 11 now unavailable, Carter finds himself in a bit of a bind. The Giants have a long list of retired jersey numbers, meaning many of the most iconic numbers in team history are already off the table.
Some of the other notable numbers that have been retired by the Giants include:
No. 4 (Tuffy Leemans),
No. 7 (Mel Hein),
No. 10 (Eli Manning),
No. 14 (Ward Cuff and Y.A. Tittle),
No. 16 (Frank Gifford),
No. 32 (Al Blozis),
No. 40 (Joe Morrison),
No. 42 (Charlie Conerly),
No. 50 (Ken Strong),
and No. 92 (Michael Strahan)
This leaves Carter with quite a few numbers to choose from, but it’s clear that some of the most prestigious options are unavailable.
Interestingly, Carter’s situation has some precedent in recent years. Last year, Malik Nabers, the No. 6 overall pick, sought permission from the family of Giants great Ray Flaherty to wear the retired No. 1. In that case, the Flaherty family needed to have a discussion and come to an agreement before granting their permission. So, while it’s rare for players to wear retired numbers, it’s not entirely unheard of.
Jersey number issues aside, Carter is entering the Giants with a tremendous amount of hype and expectations. The 21-year-old linebacker had an outstanding college career at Penn State, where he was named a unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. His junior season included a nation-leading 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, further cementing his status as one of the most dominant defensive players in college football.