Lawrence Taylor sacks Abdul Carter’s request to put on his retired No. 56 with Giants

Abdul Carter gave it a shot, figuring he had nothing to lose.

Positive, Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56 is retired by the New York Giants and is without doubt one of the most revered jersey numbers in franchise historical past. However Carter, the third general choose within the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night time, idolizes Taylor and wished to see if he’d be cool with him going after quarterbacks all these years later whereas carrying that acquainted quantity.

Nicely, L.T. sacked these goals rapidly.

Taylor heard of Carter’s request and, whereas honored, thinks the previous Penn State move rusher must do a quantity on opposing offenses in one thing apart from No. 56.

“He must be the participant that he’s,” Taylor informed ESPN. “He can’t be one other Lawrence Taylor. Nicely, he could also be higher than a Lawrence Taylor. Who is aware of? However he has to make his mark. It’s as much as him.”

Carter wore No. 11 at Penn State — however that quantity can also be retired by the Giants in honor of quarterback Phil Simms.

[MORE: He’s not a QB but Abdul Carter is the franchise player the Giants need]

Carter posted a photograph on social media throughout his pre-draft go to on the Giants’ facility just a few weeks in the past of an image of Taylor hanging within the corridor and spoke after he was chosen about how he usually watches YouTube movies of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer, who’s thought of probably the most dominant defensive gamers in NFL historical past.

“The worst factor he might say was NO!!” Carter posted on X late Friday night time. “My stance don’t change, LT is the (goat emoji). nothing however respect… This simply gonna make me work even tougher!! I like it.”

Carter led the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss and had 12 sacks final season for Penn State. He bolsters a Giants protection that already has stable move rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns and a robust D-line that features Professional Bowler Dexter Lawrence.

“Including me to that group, it’s going to be dope,” Carter mentioned after he was drafted. “It’s going to be essentially the most dominant group.”

Taylor can recognize that, and he is rooting for Carter — simply in a special quantity than 56.

“I do know he would like to put on that quantity, however hey, I believe it’s retired,” Taylor informed the New York Submit. “Get one other quantity, I don’t care if it’s double zero, after which make it well-known.”

There may be some precedent for Giants gamers to put on retired numbers. Huge receiver Malik Nabers, New York’s first-rounder final yr, requested to put on No. 1 — which was worn by Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Ray Flaherty within the Nineteen Thirties. Flaherty’s household gave Nabers permission to put on his quantity.

Cam Ward, the primary general choose by Tennessee on Thursday night time, obtained a shock the subsequent day when Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Warren Moon confirmed up for his introductory information convention and gave him permission to put on his retired No. 1.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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