Abdul Carter's Search for NFL Jersey Number Continues After Two Retired Denials

New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, drafted third overall, has been unsuccessful in his attempts to wear retired jersey numbers previously worn by franchise legends. Carter first requested to wear No. 56, made famous by Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, but Taylor declined, urging Carter to make his own mark with a new number. Carter then tried to obtain No. 11, his college number at Penn State, which was retired in honor of Phil Simms; although Simms was open to the idea, his family ultimately vetoed the request. With 13 numbers retired by the Giants, Carter faces limited options and has joked on social media about playing without a number. The saga has drawn attention to the Giants' strong traditions and the challenges new stars face in honoring their own legacies within storied franchises. Lawrence Taylor humorously suggested Carter could choose double zero and make it legendary himself.