Phil Simms was willing to unretire No. 11 for Abdul Carter but his family said NO

Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms was ready to give new pass rusher Abdul Carter his number 11 jersey, but his family didn't allow it.

Phil Simms was willing to unretire No. 11 for Abdul Carter but his family said NO

Abdul Carter (Image via IMAGO)

Abdul Carter has now suffered back-to-back setbacks in his pursuit of wearing retired New York Giants numbers. First, Lawrence Taylor declined to hand over his number 56, and after him, Carter received a no from Phil Simms’s family as well.

The Giants passed on the opportunity to draft Shedeur Sanders at number three overall to strengthen their pass rush. They picked up Carter, formerly of Penn State.

Simms was happy to see the Giants locking down one of the best players in the draft this year.

NEW YORK GIANTS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED… pass rusher ABDUL CARTER AND JAXSON DART AT QB.

Phil Simms tweeted

Shortly after, Carter’s representatives contacted Simms for his number 11 jersey. The former Giants Super Bowl MVP had no issue letting the 21-year-old wear his number.

I wanna give my jersey to Abdul Carter because I wanna see him live up to my expectations because when I was in high school, I was an outstanding linebacker.

Phil Simms said in a FanDuel-sponsored podcast episode

He would have given up the number if his family hadn’t been in the way.

Good news for Giants fans who believe in tradition. Phil Simms’ #11 will not be coming out of retirement for first-round pick Abdul Carter, who wore 11 at Penn State. Simms said on a podcast he would be okay with it but he told me tonight he was outvoted by his family. After hearing that Simms was agreeable, Carter had said it would be an honor to wear 11. LT already turned down Carter’s request to wear 56. Carter needs to create his legacy with his own number.

New York media’s Gary Myers reported

So, Carter needs to find another number.

Abdul Carter reacts to missing out on Phil Simms’ jersey number

Carter really looked forward to wearing the number eleven. It was the number he wore at Penn State. Before that, it belonged to Dallas Cowboys Micah Parsons.

Phil Simms was willing to unretire No. 11 for Abdul Carter but his family said NO
Abdul Carter (Image via IMAGO)

However, Simms’s family rejected his request. Carter heard the news and reacted, “Damn at this point imma be out there with just my last name on my jersey, no numbe… Jkjk, It’s all Love. Just wanna play Football!”

This became the second former Giants player turning down his request to wear their jersey numbers. Even before the NFC East side drafted him, the Unanimous All-American hinted that he wanted to wear Lawrence Taylor’s number 56.

I haven’t met him [LT] yet, eventually I will. He’s the greatest football player of all time and somebody I look up to. I want to chase greatness.

Abdul Carter said during his introductory press conference as a Giants player

The two-time Super Bowl champ, and arguably the best football player Bill Belichick has ever seen, turned down Carter’s request.

I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired. Get another number, I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.

Lawrence Taylor said via the New York Post

Carter was disappointed by the development. Regardless, he called Taylor ‘The GOAT.’

The worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance doesn’t change, LT is the GOAT [emoji] nothing but respect… This is just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it.

Abdul Carter tweeted

Meanwhile, the first overall pick of the 2024 draft, Cam Ward, will wear the number one jersey for the Tennessee Titans. The number was previously worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon when the organization was still called the Houston Oilers.

Moon was at the Kentucky Derby this week. He spoke with Kay Adams on the Up & Adams show, revealing the reason behind unretiring his jersey number.

[Cam Ward] has a chance to start a legacy with that number with the Tennessee Titans, which I’m a member of as part of the organization. I just thought it was the right time to do it, and he can create his own legacy just like I did, and hopefully he’ll surpass my legacy.

Warren Moon said

Ward’s jersey is selling like hotcakes, but still far behind Sanders’ Cleveland Browns number.

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