Abdul Carter's jersey number saga has reached a new checkpoint.
Carter, who wore No. 51 during his rookie season with the Giants, is changing to No. 3, Friday.
Carter's jersey number became a hot topic when Carter suggested he'd like to don 56, the number retired by the Giants in honor of legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor, shortly after the Giants selected him with the third overall pick of the 2025 draft. He was denied permission to wear the sacred digits, and when he attempted to pivot to his collegiate No. 11 worn at Penn State -- another jersey number retired by the Giants in honor of quarterback Phil Simms -- the Hall of Famer's family rejected Carter's request.
Carter eventually combined the two into 51, settling the drama for the 2025 season. Following veteran quarterback Russell Wilson's departure, No. 3 became available and Carter capitalized.
Prior to the NFL's loosening of its jersey number requirements in 2021, linebackers were prohibited from wearing single digits. With possibilities expanded, Carter is taking advantage. His jersey-purchasing fans will hope he sticks with this digit longer than one season.
