Giants Rookie Abdul Carter Picks No. 51 After Taylor, Simms Jersey Drama

New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, the third overall draft pick, has finally landed on jersey number 51 for minicamp after a whirlwind of rejections from franchise legends. Carter first eyed Lawrence Taylor’s iconic No. 56, retired in 1994, but the greatest Giant himself gave a firm no. Then, Carter turned to Phil Simms’ No. 11, a number he wore proudly at Penn State, where it’s a mark of honor previously donned by Micah Parsons. Simms was open to it, but his family slammed the door shut after a heated debate.

Carter, with his trademark humor, quipped he might just slap his last name on the jersey and skip the number altogether. Instead, he’s embracing No. 51, a number with no retirement buzz but a solid Giants legacy, last worn by edge rusher Azeez Ojulari and notably by two-time Super Bowl champ Zak DeOssie. Unlike Malik Nabers, who got the green light to unretire Ray Flaherty’s No. 1, Carter’s quest for a legendary digit didn’t pan out. But with his talent, No. 51 might just become the next big thing in Giants lore.