EAST RUTHERFORD — Abdul Carter is getting a fresh start with a new look.
The New York Giants linebacker officially switched his jersey number to No. 3 on Friday, the team announced, moving on from the No. 51 he wore during his rookie season.
Carter’s new number carries personal significance. The former Penn State standout was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the change reflects that draft position.
The switch also comes after a lengthy jersey-number saga. Upon entering the league, Carter sought to wear No. 56, retired in honor of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, and later No. 11, retired for former quarterback Phil Simms. Both requests were denied, leading Carter to settle on No. 51 for his first NFL season.
No. 3 became available following the departure of quarterback Russell Wilson, who wore the number for New York last season.
Carter appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, recording 43 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and a team rookie-record 23 quarterback hits, emerging as one of the league’s top first-year defenders.
Now, with a number tied directly to his draft status, Carter will look to build on a strong debut season — this time with a new identity on his jersey.
