Giants Rookie Abdul Carter Wears No. 51 After LT, Simms Refuse Unretire

New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft, has chosen to wear jersey No. 51 after unsuccessful attempts to acquire the retired numbers of franchise legends Lawrence Taylor (No. 56) and Phil Simms (No. 11). Taylor declined Carter's request, advising him to create his own legacy, while Simms was initially open but ultimately, his family voted to keep the number retired. Carter, who wore No. 11 at Penn State, has settled on No. 51—a number previously worn by Azeez Ojulari—blending digits from the two retired numbers as a fresh start. Although Carter initially sparked controversy by seeking to unretire iconic jerseys, he has emphasized focusing on his performance rather than the number itself. Reports indicate that No. 51 will be his official number moving forward, despite some early uncertainty typical of rookie minicamp assignments. Analysts suggest that rookies should not expect to wear retired numbers until they have established themselves on the team.