Rob Gronkowski Reacts to Abdul Carter’s Jersey Request
Abdul Carter, a former standout from Pennsylvania and the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, expressed a desire to don the legendary Lawrence Taylor’s iconic number 56 for his rookie season. Gronkowski didn’t quite take this request in stride.
In a recent podcast episode of “Man Man,” co-hosted with former teammate Julian Edelman, Gronkowski questioned Carter’s rationale: “Did he seriously want an LT number? Sure, you were a high draft pick, but LT is like, an absolute legend. Good luck proving yourself.” He also noted that Taylor himself suggested Carter choose a different number.
“I get that he wants it,” Taylor remarked. “But, honestly, I think it’s retired. Pick any number, even double zero, and I’ll make it famous.” It was a classic LT response, and Edelman added his thoughts humorously, noting how absurd it was for Carter to even ask, given the significance of the number in football history.
Carter, undeterred by the backlash, tweeted that the worst outcome would simply be a “no.” He expressed his respect for LT and framed it as motivation: “This is going to make me work even harder!” During his time at Pennsylvania, Carter wore number 11, similar to former Nittany Lions stars like Lavar Arrington and Micah Parsons.
Initially, number 11 with the Giants was retired alongside former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms, but there had been discussions about possibly making an exception for Carter and fellow first-round pick, Jackson Dart.
Carter eagerly took to social media, tagging Simms and posting, “It’s going to be an honor.” However, Simms’ family has reaffirmed that the number will remain retired.
Now, Carter’s focus is on wearing his own name on his jersey and making his mark on the field, stating: “I just want to play football!”
It appears that while Carter dreams big, he’s also grounded in the respect and history of the game. Interestingly, this discussion comes a year after the Giants opted not to retire number 11 after consulting with the family of Ray Flaherty. It seems Carter is charting his own path amidst these historical precedents.
