After more than a decade without a wide receiver, the New York Giants are hoping that LSU rookie Malik Nabers can be a true No. 1 wideout in the coming years for a franchise that has struggled badly of late. He has the talent to be just that.
But Nabers, who wore No. 8 in college, wanted to wear No. 1 in the NFL. There was just one problem, because that number was retired by the New York Giants years ago.
But the New York Giants made a big exception and allowed Nabers to retire the number for the coming season.
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Malik Nabers was expected to wear the number 9 jersey in his rookie season with the New York Giants, but that ultimately won’t be the case.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Giants announced that Nabers would instead wear the previously disused No. 1 jersey that belonged to franchise legend Ray Flaherty.
This is a pretty significant number change, as Flaherty’s No. 1 jersey was the first ever retired in professional football. It was immortalized after he helped the Giants win the NFL championship during the 1934 season.
Malik Nabers released a statement through the Giants.
The Giants hope that Nabers, who caught 89 passes for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, can make an immediate impact as their best receiver wearing the No. 1 jersey this year. He certainly has to set himself high standards when it comes to wearing Ray Flaherty’s number.
Flaherty was selected as an NFL ALL-Pro seven times, playing as both a tight end and a defensive end from 1926 to 1935, most of which he spent with the Giants.