Abdul Carter Rejected by Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms—Time to Pick a Normal Number

Nick Pedone|published: Sat 3rd May, 09:57 2025

Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It’s probably time for Abdul Carter to just pick a normal defensive end number.

The New York Giants’ third-overall NFL Draft pick originally asked Lawrence Taylor for the legendary No. 56—and was rejected.

According to ESPN, Carter had asked the Giants about the potential of wearing the retired No. 56. Through intermediaries, Taylor, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, rejected Carter’s request. However, Taylor’s longtime agent worked out a phone call with Drew Rosenhaus, Carter’s agent, and the legendary defensive lineman expressed respect for the request but wanted Carter to create his own legacy with the Giants.

“He has to be the player that he is,” Taylor told ESPN in a phone conversation. “He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor. Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.”

Carter seemed appreciative just to have the phone call, and posted on social media that Taylor is still the greatest of all time, and that the rejection will just make him work even harder.

The main point of Taylor’s message to the rookie was to cement his own story with the Giants in a number that was not No. 56. However, Carter wasn’t taking no for an answer, reaching out to Phil Simms about the retired No. 11—the number that he wore during his successful career at Penn State.

On a recent podcast, Simms said that if Carter were to ask for the No. 11, he would probably let him wear it. However, longtime Giants writer Gary Myers reported on Friday evening that the number would not be coming out of retirement, as Carter’s request was rejected after the Simms family outvoted the legendary quarterback—leaving Carter back to the drawing board to find his own number.

Again, Carter took the news in stride straight to social media, joking that he would have to play out his rookie season in a blank jersey with just his last name on the back.

Carter enjoyed a legendary college football career of his own at Penn State. He followed in the big shoes of Micah Parsons, rocking the No. 11—typically reserved for standout Nittany Lions.

At this point, it’s time for Carter to get in the lab and identify a jersey number that he’s comfortable turning into his own. Within the same week, he was rejected by two of New York’s biggest football legends.

Just pick your own jersey number and move on with rookie minicamp.