Abdul Carter Settles on Jersey Number as Giants Rookie Minicamp Kicks Off

New York Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter has chosen to wear the number 51.

Abdul Carter Settles on Jersey Number as Giants Rookie Minicamp Kicks Off

Abdul Carter (Image via IMAGO)

Abdul Carter finally has a number to call his own. On day one of rookie mini-camp, the New York Giants front office reported that Carter will wear number 51.

Carter had to wait for a while to finally choose a number that suited his robust playstyle. Eventually, he settled for the number 51.

On Friday, Carter showed up at the Giants’ facility wearing his number. He shared several photos on Instagram with his new practice jerseys and a message for the Giants fans.

Could say I made it but this sh!t just getting started!

Abdul Carter wrote

Carter asked two former Giants legends for permission to wear their retired numbers. He asked ex-Giants quarterback Phil Simms for the number 11. Simms was ready to unretire his jersey, but his family members stopped him.

Chris Simms, son of Phil and co-host of Pro Football Talk on NBC, revealed his mother and sister didn’t allow it.

My sister calls—she’s at my parents’ house. And she’s like, ‘Christopher, what do you think Dad should do?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, well, I talked to dad. I thought, you know, it’d be cool if Abdul Carter [wore the number].’

Chris Simms told Mike Florio via Sports Illustrated

His sister hung up the phone even before he could finish his sentence, and he realized that she and his mother were against the idea of letting someone else wear the number 11.

Carter also messaged two-time Super Bowl-winning pass rusher Lawrence Taylor for his iconic number 56. However, Taylor advised Carter to select another number and make that famous.

Eventually, Carter chose to take the five from Taylor and the one from Simms—51.

Abdul Carter feels good wearing the number 11 on the back of his jersey

Players are superstitious, and choosing a number falls into that category. Once they don a number, they tend to stick with it their entire career, barring something major.

Abdul Carter Settles on Jersey Number as Giants Rookie Minicamp Kicks Off
Abdul Carter (Image via IMAGO)

Carter wanted Taylor’s number because he’s considered the greatest Giant, possibly the best player to ever play in the NFL. The number 11 not only belonged to Simms, but Carter wore the same for Penn State in college and balled out.

He now has a great opportunity to create history wearing the number 51.

I feel good [about 51], and I feel like it’s going to have to grow on me a little bit, but it’s feeling good right now.

Abdul Carter told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post

All the Giants’ rookies received their jersey numbers on Friday, including dynamic running back Cam Skattebo. The Giants drafted the Arizona State graduate 105th overall in the fourth round. He will wear the number 44, but it’s a temporary arrangement.

[44] is what I am in for now. This is a temporary number. We will see what I end up with in the season, but we won’t know that until later on.

Cam Skattebo said

Skattebo and the newly acquired linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles were given the exact same number. Perhaps Skattebo can wear the number, his ASU number four, in New York when the season starts.

Player NamesJersey Number
OLB Abdul Carter51
QB Jaxson Dart6
DT Darius Alexander91
RB Cam Skattebo44
OL Marcus Mbow71
TE Thomas Fidone II86
CB Korie Black25

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