The New York Giants’ rookie edge rusher, Abdul Carter, has made an intriguing choice for his jersey number: 51. After initially pursuing the iconic 56 worn by Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and 11 made famous by two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Phil Simms, Carter found a path forward with this third pick, which is sure to resonate with Giants fans.
Before the rookie minicamp kicked off, the Giants officially released the numbers for their rookies, with Carter’s choice grabbing the spotlight. His aspirations of donning the illustrious 56, however, ran into a wall. Taylor himself addressed the request, acknowledging the significance of the number. “I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired,” Taylor mentioned, adding a playful suggestion to “get another number — I don’t care if it’s double zero — then make it famous.”
Initially, Simms appeared to entertain the idea of letting Carter take his number 11. But things took a turn when family dynamics came into play. Simms’ daughter and wife were not on board with the decision. Chris Simms, Phil’s son and NBC Sports analyst, recounted the moment, conveying the pressure of family votes: “I knew my mom and sister had gotten involved—mom and sister have one more vote than me and my brother, Matt.” The humorous quip about being outvoted reflects the close ties within the Simms family, adding a human element to this jersey saga.
Now, when it comes to the number 51, Carter won’t be stepping into unknown territory. He will join 20 other Giants players who have donned this number over the years, with former long snapper Zack DeOssie standing out as the most notable. DeOssie wore it from 2007 to 2019, cementing his place in Giants’ lore. Meanwhile, Carter’s predecessor, Azeez Ojulari, who is now with the Philadelphia Eagles, held the 51 over the past four seasons.
Carter’s selection is one of several jersey assignments for the 2023 rookie class. Quarterback Jaxson Dart will take on number 6, defensive tackle Darius Alexander will wear 91, running back Cam Skattebo will sport 44, guard Marcus Mbow will wear 71, tight end Thomas Fidone II is set for 86, and cornerback Korie Black will don number 25. This jersey reveal signals that the Giants are ready to forge ahead with their new talent, and fans are sure to keep an eye on how Carter makes 51 uniquely his own.
