Giants' Abdul Carter Says It Would Be 'An Honor' to Wear Phil Simms' Retired No. 11

Newly-drafted edge rusher Abdul Carter is ready to take up New York Giants icon Phil Simms on his offer to share his retired No. 11.

Carter responded on Friday to Simms telling FanDuel TV he would approve the un-retirement of his number for Carter or quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Carter, the third pick of the 2025 NFL draft, wore No. 11 at Penn State.

When told about Carter's response, Simms told NorthJersey.com's Art Stapleton: "I had some fun with it, and the fact that he said it’d be honor to wear, that’s just him being really nice. Man, it’ll make me re-live my days of being an outside linebacker in high school. Truly, I can’t wait to see him practice. I was hoping the Giants would get him. He’s gonna fit in right away with the Giants culture."

When asked what his message to Carter would be, Simms told Stapleton, "I'd say he has to do well enough to get the jersey retired again. And I expect him to play that well, I think he's that good."

The conversation started with Simms being asked by FanDuel TV's Cousin Sal if he would be willing to approve the Giants giving No. 11 to Carter or Dart.

The Giants retired Simms' No. 11 in 1995 after the quarterback established himself as one of the best passers in NFL history through 14 seasons and led the franchise to victories in Super Bowls XXI and XXV.

"I told some of my friends and people around me, I said, 'Oh, I'd let him have it in a second,'" Simms told Sal. "I said, 'Can you just help it a little, and make it better?' I think it would be a lot of fun. It wouldn't bother me.'"

When pressed if giving up the number would bother him, Simms said, "It's just, whatever, if they really want it."

Carter previously expressed interest in wearing Lawrence Taylor's retired No. 56, but Taylor declined the request, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

The Giants unretired the late Ray Flaherty's No. 2 for Malik Nabers, the No. 6 pick of the 2024 draft, last summer. The family of Flaherty approved the change ahead of the wideout's rookie season, according to the team.