Abdul Carter Finally Makes Giants Jersey Number Decision

Stephen Douglas | May 9, 2025

Abdul Carter holding up a Giants jersey after being drafted No. 3. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Abdul Carter will wear No. 51 with the New York Giants. The team announced the numbers that rookies would wear on Friday morning, ending the speculation that Carter, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, would wear the retired No. 56 of Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

Carter wore No. 11 at Penn State, but after he was drafted by the Giants he said "No. 56 sound real good." People were not impressed.

Source: #Giants No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter plans to wear No. 5️⃣1️⃣ today and moving forward.

With rookie minicamp starting, Carter will be on the field with his new teammates after weighing several historic number options. 51 it is. pic.twitter.com/49jhqFh3HU

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 9, 2025

How Carter landed on No. 51 is a mystery to this point, but NFL Network's Kyle Brandt made a strong case for No. 51 on Good Morning Football earlier this week.

Brandt wrote 56 and 11 on a small whiteboard and then erased the six and the one. By taking one number each from Taylor's retired No. 56 and the legendary Penn State and "Linebacker U" No. 11 he was left with No. 51, which Carter actually landed on.

I solved Abdul Carter’s jersey number dilemma. pic.twitter.com/fTnD2i0ZB3

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 5, 2025

Carter was not the only rookie to consider a retired number heading into training camp. Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick of the Tennessee Titans, received the blessing of Warren Moon to wear his retired No. 1 jersey.

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