The first two numbers of Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers were already taken.
At LSU, he wore No. 8, which he refused to take from Daniel Jones. He wore No. 9 throughout training camp, but kicker Graham Gano will keep it.
The Giants announced Wednesday that Nabers will wear a number that hasn’t been used for a long time.
No. 1.
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The number was last worn by Ray Flaherty, a Giants Hall of Fame player. The Giants retired Flaherty’s No. 1 in 1935, marking the first time a football player’s number was retired.
Now the Giants’ No. 1 wide receiver will wear it with permission from Flaherty’s family.
“I understand the responsibility and will do everything in my power to honor the Flaherty family and this organization,” Nabers said in a statement. “I will wear the number with great pride.”
Flaherty was the first top receiver in Giants team history when he played for them from 1929 to 1935, and he was part of the 1934 NFL championship team.
The Giants selected Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He became an instant fan favorite, and the Giants hope he can be the team’s first receiver to surpass 1,000 yards since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018.
Nabers has performed excellently in training camp and preseason and will likely be Jones’ biggest target this season.
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Gabriel Trevino can be reached at [email protected].