Phil Simms willing to un-retire No. 11 jersey for Abdul Carter

In an interesting turn of events, Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the New York Giants draft, has faced challenges in securing a desired jersey number. After initially aiming for the prestigious No. 56, retired by the franchise in honor of Lawrence Taylor, Carter received a firm rejection from the Hall of Famer who recommended he find a different number. However, the situation took a unique twist when Phil Simms, a former quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion for the Giants, expressed that he would not mind un-retiring his jersey number, No. 11, for Carter, signaling his support for the rookie's aspirations. Simms mentioned on FanDuel TV that giving up his iconic number wouldn't bother him and shared that his relatives might be a factor in the decision to keep the number retired or not. Carter, who wore No. 11 during his college career at Penn State, expressed gratitude for Simms' consideration, stating that it would be an honor to wear the number associated with the legendary quarterback. This conversation has sparked excitement among Giants fans, bringing back memories of past players and their jersey numbers. It’s noteworthy that this would be the second consecutive year the Giants have un-retired a jersey number for a rookie, following last season's decision to un-retire Ray Flaherty’s No. 1 for wide receiver Malik Nabers, who performed significantly well in the past season. The Giants currently have 13 retired numbers for their players, making it a challenging task for new recruits when choosing a jersey number. As the team looks forward to the new season with Carter on board, this scenario showcases the legacy of past players and the connections they maintain with new talent.