New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter endured quite the odyssey while seeking the perfect jersey number.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter originally asked for No. 56. But that number belonged to Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and is retired by the Giants.
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Then, Carter shifted to No. 11, the number he wore for the Penn State Nittany Lions. It also is retired in honor of two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Phil Simms.
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So Carter combined the numbers to come up with No. 51 for his rookie season.
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Now, Carter has made another move. According to the team’s X account, he will wear No. 3 for the 2026 season.
According to the Giants, Carter chose No. 3 because it “coincides with him being the third overall pick” in the draft.
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That jersey number became available with the departure of backup quarterback Russell Wilson. He is a free agent after the expiration of his one-year deal with the Giants.
Jersey numbers clearly have a deep meaning for Carter. At Penn State, the No. 11 has a long history of greatness that started with LaVar Arrington in the late 1990s. Subsequently, the number was worn by Navorro Bowman, Brandon Bell and Micah Parsons before Carter. That number now belongs to LaVar Arrington II.
On March 3, Carter teased Giants fans that a new number was loading.
Carter enjoyed a successful rookie season as No. 51. An AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist, he played in all 17 games, recording 43 total tackles, 23 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
His 23 quarterback hits led all rookies and were the most ever by a Giants rookie.
New York hired former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in an effort to improve on last season’s 4-13 record.
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