Phil Simms' No. 11 Remains Retired as Abdul Carter Seeks Jersey Number

New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has faced public setbacks in his search for a jersey number after his requests to wear retired numbers were denied. Carter first sought to don Lawrence Taylor's iconic No. 56 but was respectfully declined by Taylor, who encouraged Carter to forge his own legacy. Carter then turned his attention to Phil Simms' retired No. 11, a number he wore at Penn State. While Simms publicly expressed support for allowing Carter to wear the number, his family ultimately vetoed the idea, leaving No. 11 off-limits. The situation has reignited debate about the meaning and permanence of retired jerseys, with some seeing personal blessings as a way to keep legacies alive and others arguing it diminishes tradition. Carter has responded with good humor on social media, joking about his ongoing search for a number and expressing respect for the legends whose numbers he sought.