Brian Daboll hasn’t forgotten Abdul Carter’s dubious request.
On Thursday, the New York Giants’ official X account shared a lighthearted moment from the team’s facility involving Daboll, Carter and legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who was in for a visit.
In the video, Daboll playfully teased Carter by asking, “Abdul, you know this guy?” as Taylor was introduced formally.
Taylor stood in front of the Giants and gave a speech as part of the visit to his old stomping grounds.
This jest was a nod to Carter’s request to wear Taylor’s iconic No. 56 jersey, which the Giants retired in honor of the two-time Super Bowl champion’s illustrious career.
Carter, whom the Giants selected with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Penn State, had expressed admiration for Taylor and sought permission to don the digits, following in the Hall-of-Fame linebacker’s footsteps.
Taylor, while honored, respectfully declined, emphasizing the importance of Carter forging his own legacy.
“He has to be the player that he is,” Taylor said. “He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor. Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows? But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.”
Despite the denial, the interaction between Carter and Taylor was marked by mutual respect.
The two shook hands when Taylor was introduced while making his way to the front of the room to deliver his message.
With 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss with the Nittany Lions in 2024, Carter is projected to be one of the top defensive rookies during the 2025 NFL season.
Taylor, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999, was a 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time Defensive Player of the Year with the Giants during his 13-year tenure with the team.
