New York Giants electrifying first-round rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has made a historic decision, with the blessing of one of the franchise’s legends, when it comes to his jersey number.
Nabers, who had been wearing No. 9 throughout training camp and the preseason, after being chosen by the Giants with the No. 6 overall pick in this spring’s NFL Draft, will don No. 1 when the regular season kicks off.
According to a press release issued by the Giants, the last time the number was worn was by Ray Flaherty, who became the first player to ever have his number retired in the history of the NFL.
“I’m going to represent their family’s retired number well,” Nabers said in the statement. “I’m going to try my best. I’m grateful that they chose the opportunity to un-retire the jersey and let me wear it. I’m going to wear it with pride.”
Malik Nabers, New York Giants Number Decision Was No Easy Sell
There are lofty expectations for Nabers, who showed an ability to make a legitimate impact on the game via the deep ball and after the catch during the preseason this summer, on the heels of a 3,003-yard and 21-touchdown collegiate career at LSU.
Ray Flaherty was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976, after playing for the Giants for seven seasons, including reaching three NFL Championship Games.
With permission from the family of Giants legend Ray Flaherty, Malik Nabers will wear No. 1.
Flaherty's number was the first to be retired in Pro Football History. #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/9I5BKSkIVK
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 28, 2024
After several conversations between Ray Flaherty Jr. and Giants owner John Mara, Flaherty’s family ultimately granted permission for Nabers to wear the number.
“There were a few things,” Flaherty said. “Probably one of the most important is I kind of polled my family. I’ve got two sons and a daughter. And, of course, that’s their grandfather. Initially, my daughter wasn’t that excited about it. And it was she that came around. Eventually she said, ‘It might be lucky for him. That number one might be a good number for him.’ She acquiesced. We thought that would be the way to go.”
The New York Giants are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the franchise this season, and Nabers wearing Flaherty’s number offers an opportunity to showcase legendary figure in the history of the franchise while potentially offering a glimpse of a dynamic future.
“I understood that Malik was interested in wearing number one, and we initially told him, ‘No, it’s been retired for many years,’” Mara said. “Then I thought, I think we’d be willing to allow it if the Flaherty family would be agreeable to it. I spoke with Ray Flaherty. Jr. a couple of weeks ago and I’ve had several conversations with him since, and they called me today to tell me that they would be agreeable to allowing Malik to wear the number.
“I thought it was a very gracious gesture on their part, but I also thought it would allow us to at least educate people as to who Ray Flaherty was, because he played in the 1930s, and I’m sure that most of our fans have no idea who he was. This all took place today and we’re very grateful to the Flaherty family and I told them that the number would go back to being retired after Malik’s career, which hopefully will last many years, is over.”
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