Abdul Carter wasted no time in declaring his jersey number preference after being drafted by the New York Giants.
The Penn State edge defender was selected third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and made it clear that he would like to suit up with No. 56 next season.
However, that jersey is iconic in New York and was famously worn by Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, whose legendary 13-year career led the franchise to retire the number in his honor.
“56 sounds real good, but we’ve got to have a conversation,” Carter said, when asked by Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons what his preference would be.
It seems, though, not much of a conversation was required.
After hearing Carter’s request, Taylor offered a swift response.
“I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired,” the two-time Super Bowl champion, who drank 41 beers on draft day himself back in 1981, told the New York Post.
“Get another number, I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.”
While he may have been disappointed, Carter took the response in his stride, responding on Friday night with a classy social media post.
“The worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance don’t change, LT is the (GOAT). Nothing but respect,” he wrote on X.
“This just gonna make me work even harder!
“I love it.”
Carter, the 15th Unanimous All-American in Penn State history, will join a defensive front that already includes Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in New York.
General manager Joe Schoen shared his excitement about the 21-year-old’s arrival once the No. 3 pick was confirmed after months of deliberation and speculation.
“Really excited about adding another pass rusher to the organization,” Schoen said.
“Great kid. We spent a lot of time with him, been in constant communication with him. I know you guys asked last time about the foot.
“We feel good about the foot, where he is. He’s been running, been working out, so we’re not really concerned with that at this point.
“But again, we’re just excited to add a really good football player to the organization who’s really going to help our defense moving forward.”
In college, Carter appeared in 42 career games and made 35 starts for the Nittany Lions, finishing sixth all-time in program history in sacks (23.0), eighth in tackles for loss (39.5), and tied for 12th in forced fumbles (five).
Before the 2024 season began, the prospect told Cowboys star Parsons — who is in $200m contract negotiations himself — that he wanted to be the first pick in the draft.
The fellow Penn State product took him ‘under his wing’ and Carter followed up by posting 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss, which led the nation.
While he didn’t end up going first overall, with Cam Ward and Travis Hunter picked before him, the Giants will be delighted to bring Carter onto the team.
Now all he will need to do is pick a jersey number.
