The New York Giants took Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He immediately started making waves in the NFL world by expressing his desire to wear the retired number of Lawrence Taylor. Taylor said no, which sparked a massive debate in the sports world. In recent years, teams have unretired numbers for certain players, but players also have the right to say no. Another franchise legend, quarterback Phil Simms, revealed he would gladly give up his retired number for Carter if asked.
New York Giants Phil Simms On Abdul Carter
Carter wore number 11 as a Nittany Lion. The New York Giants retired that number in 1995, and for good reason. Phil Simms had a 95-64 record over 14 seasons with two Super Bowl wins. In a recent interview, he was asked what he would do if a player asked him to give up the number. He was very open to the idea.
“Hey, look, I told some of my friends and people around me, I said, ‘Oh, I’ll let him have it in a second.’ I said, ‘Can you just help it a little and make it better?’”
“I think it would be a lot of fun, it wouldn’t bother me.”
Simms did say that his family and agent may not want him to give up the number, but he would welcome the idea. Carter responded positively on social media, but it remains to be seen whether he will actually request the number.
A Menacing Defensive Line
Carter is another top-tier player on the New York Giants’ defensive line. Dexter Lawrence was a menace in the trenches last year, and the team has a myriad of edge rushers to deploy. Former first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux has had some eye-popping moments. The team traded for Brian Burns last year, who has shown elite pass-rush abilities. Opposing teams will want to stay out of third and long situations with this unit.
This group is one of the reasons people are higher on the Giants for this upcoming season. While they aren’t expected to win the division, they shouldn’t be a pushover. The top teams in the NFC will have to watch out, or the Giants could pull off the upset.
Final Thoughts
For many athletes, the number they choose means a lot to them. It will be interesting to see if Carter ends up wearing the infamous number 11 for the New York Giants or whether he decides to choose an out-of-the-blue number and forge his own legacy.
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