Flaherty was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. He played for the Giants from 1928-29 and 1931-35, helping them to the NFL Championship Game in 1933, 1934 and 1935. Flaherty suggested to coach Steve Owen that the Giants wear sneakers in the 1934 championship game, known as the “Sneakers Game,” in the frigid conditions at the Polo Grounds. The Giants took advantage of the solid footing in the second half and won 30-13. Flaherty introduced the screen pass in the 1937 title game, when Washington earned a 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears. He spent the 1930 season as coach at Gonzaga. Flaherty finished his coaching career with Boston, Washington, the New York Yankees and the Chicago Hornets with a record of 80-37-5. He died in 1994.
“I think it was a unique circumstance because the number has been out of use for so long and people don’t know who Ray Flaherty was,” Mara said. “So I think it was an opportunity to highlight his career a little bit and tell people about him.”
There is already a precedent for the Giants reissuing a retired number: No. 14 was retired in honor of Ward Cuff and Hall of Famer YA Tittle.
Cuff’s nine-year career with the Giants ended in 1945, and his jersey number was retired the following year. As a wingback, fullback, halfback, defensive back and kicker, he rushed for 1,766 yards on 330 carries (a 5.3-yard average) and caught 101 passes for 1,477 yards. Cuff scored 18 touchdowns (six rushing and 12 receiving) and converted 31 of 70 field goal attempts and 98 of 102 extra point attempts. He also had a punt return average of 12.1 yards and 13 interceptions.
Wellington Mara, who was close friends with Cuff, said no Giant would wear the number after Cuff retired. But when Tittle was traded to the Giants in 1961, he asked for number 14 and got it.
Tittle played four seasons for the Giants. In 1962, he completed 200 passes on 375 attempts for 3,224 yards. His 33 touchdowns set an NFL record, and his seven touchdown passes against Washington set another record. The latter remains the Giants’ record for a single game. Tittle had the best season of his 17-year professional career in 1963, leading the league in passing with 221 completed passes on 367 attempts for 3,145 yards and 36 touchdowns, which remains the Giants’ record.
Nabers hopes to set franchise records with the No. 1 pick. He first approached general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll about changing the numbers.
“They mentioned it to me and my position on it was that I would ask, but we wouldn’t do it if the Flaherty family wasn’t OK with it,” Mara said. “And fortunately they were OK with it and I think it’s a nice story.”
Of course, this also applies to Malik Nabers.
“It shows how much this organization wants me to be a key factor in the offense,” he said. “How much they invest in me. It shows how much this organization trusts me.”
“I heard this is the first number in sports history that was ever retired, so I’m sure this number will hit home when everyone sees me with it.”
Flaherty, who splits his time between Hayden Lake, Idaho and Edmonton, will be at MetLife Stadium for the opening game as the Giants celebrate their 100th season. He is looking forward to meeting the Giants’ new No. 1 pick.
“I’ve been following Malik as best as I can in training camp and it seems like he’s having a heck of a training camp,” Flaherty said. “And I wish him the best. I have a personal interest in him now.”