Malik Nabers officially has his jersey number for the 2024 season.
The former LSU star did not announce an official number during the offseason. On Wednesday night, the New York Giants announced that Nabers will wear the No. 1 jersey this season.
This number was previously retired by the organization in honor of the legendary Ray Flaherty. In fact, Flaherty’s number 1 jersey was the first to be retired in professional football history.
The Giants say Nabers received permission from Flaherty’s family to wear the number. Nabers released a statement thanking the Flaherty family for allowing him to wear the No. 1 jersey:
“Thank you to the Flaherty family for allowing me to wear number 1 for the New York Giants.
I recognize the responsibility and will do everything in my power to honor the Flaherty family and this organization.
I will wear the number with great pride. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
With permission from the family of Giants legend Ray Flaherty, Malik Nabers will wear number 1.
Flaherty’s number was the first in professional football history to be retired. #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/9I5BKSkIVK
— New York Giants (@Giants) 28 August 2024
Nabers wore No. 9 during offseason workouts with the Giants, but that number belongs to kicker Graham Gano. Earlier this month, Nabers told Kay Adams that he was “still thinking about” what jersey number he would wear.
Nabers wore number 8 during his historic career at LSU. He was named an All-American for his performance in 2023, catching 89 passes for 1,569 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.
Flaherty was named All-Pro seven times during his playing career, four of which came as a member of the New York Giants. He was also a member of the Giants’ championship team in 1937.
Nabers will make his NFL regular season debut on September 8 against the Minnesota Vikings.