Abdul Carter’s Giants number request led to Phil Simms family drama

The debate over whether Abdul Carter, the New York Giants’ first-round pick, should be allowed to wear Phil Simms’ retired No. 11 jersey has been a hot topic in the NFL world. Phil Simms himself expressed openness to the idea, as he wore the same number during his time at Penn State. However, it was ultimately the women in his family, including his daughter Deidre and wife Diana, who shut down the idea.

Chris Simms, Phil’s son and NBC NFL analyst, shared the behind-the-scenes drama on “PFT Live with Mike Florio.” He revealed that his sister and mother were so passionate about the issue that there were tears shed during the discussion. Despite Phil’s initial willingness to let Carter wear the No. 11 jersey, the women in his family ultimately had the final say.

Chris found himself in the middle of the debate when he initially sided with his father, only to face backlash from his sister. It became clear to him that his mother and sister’s votes carried more weight in the decision-making process. Phil even asked Chris to try and sway his mother and sister to his side, but ultimately, they stood firm in their decision.

Carter initially considered wearing Lawrence Taylor’s retired No. 56 jersey before pivoting to No. 11. However, with the Simms family’s decision, Carter will have to choose a different number for his NFL career. While the controversy around retired jersey numbers may seem trivial, it has become a hot topic in the NFL world.

Recent instances of retired numbers being worn by rookies, such as Malik Nabers wearing Ray Flaherty’s No. 1 for the Giants last season, have added to the debate. Warren Moon also gave Cam Ward the permission to wear his retired No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans in this year’s draft class. While jersey numbers may not carry much weight for rookies, Carter’s denied requests have sparked speculation about what number he will choose for his NFL career.

In the end, Phil Simms was outvoted by his family, and Carter will have to find his own number to make famous. The controversy surrounding retired jersey numbers in the NFL continues to be a topic of discussion, with fans eagerly awaiting Carter’s decision.