Giants’ Fascination with Edge Rushers and Single-Digit Numbers

It seems the Giants have an intriguing obsession with edge rushers donning single-digit uniform numbers. The most recent case is Abdul Carter. He sported No. 51 in his rookie season but has now decided to switch to No. 3, which will be worn by Russell Wilson starting in 2025.

These pass rushers—especially with Brian Burns in No. 0, Kayvon Thibodeau wearing No. 5, and Carter soon in a single-digit—create quite a striking lineup.

Carter’s journey with jersey numbers has certainly been noteworthy. Before stepping onto the field in the NFL, he expressed his desire to wear No. 56, a number retired in honor of Lawrence Taylor. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t materialize since Taylor himself didn’t grant his blessing.

Later, he aimed for No. 11, his Penn State number, but it’s retired as well, courtesy of Phil Simms, whose family also declined to allow Carter to use it.

Options were limited for single-digit numbers. For instance, wide receiver Malik Nabors was fortunate enough to get No. 1 after permission from Ray Flaherty’s family. Currently, cornerback Deonte Banks holds No. 2.

Other single-digit options like No. 4 (Tuffy Lehmans) and No. 7 (Mel Hain) are also retired within the Giants’ history. Given that Carter was the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 3 feels like a reasonable match for him.

Nabors even shared on social media with a light-hearted jab at Carter, saying, “U pic sum weird numbers bro.”

Though his stint in No. 51 was brief, Carter managed to play all 17 games as a rookie, even starting six. He recorded four sacks and a total of 43 tackles, along with two forced fumbles and two recoveries. Notably, his 23 quarterback hits ranked highest among all rookies.

Interestingly, Carter faced disciplinary actions twice from interim head coach Mike Kafka due to team rule violations. The first time, he missed the initial series due to not being present for a walkthrough, and two weeks later, he was benched early in the game for tardiness.

Before 2021, linebackers were prohibited from wearing single-digit numbers. This shift certainly adds a new layer of excitement for fans, although those who bought No. 51 jerseys may find theirs turning into collector’s items sooner than expected.