Abdul Carter is no stranger to high expectations and the pressure of wearing a legendary jersey number. When he arrived at Penn State as a freshman in 2022, he immediately embraced the challenge of wearing LaVar Arrington’s iconic No. 11, and over the course of his three years in Happy Valley, he lived up to the immense legacy associated with it.
Now, as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter is set to become the face of the New York Giants. However, despite his high profile, wearing the most iconic number in the franchise’s history — Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56 — isn’t in the cards. Taylor’s No. 56 is retired by the Giants, a mark of respect for one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history who led the team to two Super Bowl victories. Still, Carter asked Taylor if he could wear the number.
Carter has the potential to become the next great defensive player in New York, following in the footsteps of Taylor and Michael Strahan. However, Taylor quickly responded to Carter’s request just one day after the draft, firmly declining the idea.
Abdul Carter
In contrast to Taylor’s stance, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, will wear No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans, even though the number is retired in honor of Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. Moon gave his approval for Ward to wear it, a gesture Taylor didn’t share. While some retired numbers have been revisited, Taylor’s refusal to bend is understandable.
He made a solid point — Carter should focus on establishing his own identity in New York, not trying to fill the shoes of a legend. In college football, traditions like Penn State’s St1x C1ty, where jersey numbers are passed down, are more common, but in the NFL, retiring a number is a permanent honor. No matter how great Carter becomes, it’s nearly impossible to replicate the extraordinary career of Taylor, an eight-time All-Pro, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl champion.
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