The New York Giants are unretiring uniform No.1 for their priced top draft pick, wide receiver Malik Nabers.
No. 1 has been retired in honor of Hall of Famer Ray Flaherty since 1935. The Flaherty family has granted Nabers and the Giants permission to use the number.
Flaherty was the first professional football player to have his number retired.
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
Nabers wore No. 9 in trading camp and during the preseason. That number belongs to veteran kicker Graham Gano.
“Everybody else’s number was really taken,” Nabers said, via Giants.com. “I looked into retired jerseys and number one stood out. So, I asked John Mara about it. He was like, ‘We could give it a shot.’ So, we gave it a shot.”
Mara went to the Flaherty family and they granted permission. They were a bit reluctant at first but then Mara explained that the reuse of the number could introduce Flaherty to modern-day fans.
One of Flaherty’s granddaughters also suggested that the number could be lucky for Nabers, who was grateful for the chance to wear it.
“I’m going to represent their family’s retired number well,” Nabers said. “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.”
This is not the first time the Giants have recycled a retired number for a star player.
In 1961, then co-owner Wellington Mara allowed recently acquired quarterback Y.A. Tittle to wear No 14, which was retired in honor of Ward Cuff — a five-time All-Pro halfback for the Giants from 1937-45.
That number is now retired for both players.
Other jersey number changes include tight end Theo Johnson (No. 84), wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (No. 88), and fullback Jakob Johnson (No. 89).
