The New York Giants made Abdul Carter the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter was seen as one of the best prospects in this class, regardless of position. He figures to have a long-term future in New York as well as the NFL.
Following his selection, Carter requested to wear his usual No. 56. However, New York retired that number in honor of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. Taylor rejected Carter’s request, and the newest Giants star has now addressed the decision.
Giants’ Abdul Carter Responds to Lawrence Taylor’s Rejection
Carter took to social media to respond Friday night. New York’s newest star didn’t seem upset by the rejection. Instead, he vowed to work even harder, using it as motivation.
“The worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance don’t change, LT is the 🐐 nothing but respect… This just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it,” Carter posted.
The worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance don’t change, LT is the 🐐 nothing but respect… This just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it.
— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1)
Taylor also spoke to the New York Post about rejecting Carter’s request. It doesn’t appear to be anything personal against the Penn State product. Taylor simply wants the Giants’ newest star to make his own mark in the NFL.
“I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired,” Taylor told New York Post reporter Steve Serby. “Get another number, I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.”
Taylor also shared how he came to wear No. 56. Originally, he wanted to keep his old college number, No. 98. However, at the time, NFL linebackers were only permitted to wear numbers in the 50s.
“I took [center Jim] Clack’s number because he was retiring,” Taylor told Serby. “Clack unretired, he came back for a year, but I had 56 and [then-GM] George Young said, ‘No, you can’t have 56 back because LT’s going to take that all the way to the Hall of Fame.’”
Carter was viewed as the top pass rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft. Early in the process, many projected him as a potential No. 1 overall pick. However, the Tennessee Titans chose to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward instead.
“There’s Abdul Carter, and then there’s everyone else. It’s that simple. Carter isn’t just EDGE1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s also PFSN’s top-ranked prospect in the class, a blue-chip talent, and an impact starter right out of the gate at the NFL level,” PFSN’s Ian Cummings wrote in a pre-draft scouting report.
“Carter transitioned from off-ball linebacker to EDGE in 2024 and didn’t waste any time becoming a nightmarish force for opposing tackles. He led the nation with 24 TFLs in an All-American campaign and also registered 12 sacks on the rush.”
Carter should make a major impact in the NFL. He’ll have to do it without wearing his preferred number—but that certainly shouldn’t hinder his ability to perform every Sunday for the Giants for years to come.
