Abdul Carter Seeks Lawrence Taylor's Retired No. 56 with Giants

New York Giants rookie linebacker Abdul Carter, recently drafted third overall, has expressed interest in wearing the team's iconic No. 56 jersey, which was retired in honor of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. Carter, who wore No. 11 at Penn State, has discussed his number preference publicly, noting that '56 sounds real good,' though any such move would require conversations with the Giants and potentially Taylor himself. While Carter clarified his admiration for Taylor and his desire to follow in his footsteps rather than replace him, Taylor has firmly stated that the number should remain retired and advised Carter to 'get another number.' The Giants previously set a precedent by unretiring Ray Flaherty’s No. 1 for Malik Nabers, but Taylor's legendary status makes the situation with No. 56 far more controversial and unlikely. The debate highlights the tension between honoring franchise legends and accommodating new stars, with most observers agreeing that Taylor's number should remain untouched. Carter is expected to choose a different number as he begins his NFL career.