Abdul Carter Told Giants He Wants to Be 'Greatest of All Time' in Team Meeting

New York Giants edge-rusher Abdul Carter is setting a high bar for himself on the heels of an underwhelming rookie season in the NFL.

Carter told The Athletic's Ian O'Connor he communicated to his teammates his desire to become "the greatest of all time."

"I mean the greatest of all time in terms of just a football player in general," he said.

Carter had 43 tackles, four sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2025. That's not the return a lot of people were expecting from a player widely considered to be one of the most NFL-ready in his draft class.

The arrival of coach John Harbaugh allowed Carter and others to wipe the slate clean in 2026. That's something he's clearly relishing.

"When Harbaugh first got here, everybody had to go in front of the room and speak, and I told everybody that I want to be the greatest of all time," he said to O'Connor. "And I can't just say that. I've got to come out here and work and prove it during games this season. I've got to be that player."

In order to make a big jump in Year 2, Carter will have needed to put in the time to improve during the offseason. Harbaugh told O'Connor he's "practicing at the highest level," while defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson added he's "mastering the technique and fundamentals."

There's no point in seriously entertaining any GOAT-related convos with Carter when he has so much to prove on the field. A big season will at least reassure the Giants and their fans the former Penn State star will live up to his status as a top-five pick.