While celebrating the team’s 100th anniversary, the New York Giants are digging deep into their past for their top draft pick Malik Nabers. The team announced they are unretiring the No. 1 for Nabers to wear this season. The Giants’ sixth pick received permission from the family of the late Giants’ end Ray Flaherty to wear the number. The unretirement of the Number 1 surprised some long-time Giants fans and observers. For a franchise dedicated to the “Giants Way,” was it necessary to erase a part of their history for Nabers? As talented as Nabers projects to be, probably not. But more importantly, the Giants need the numbers of Malik Nabers to matter more than the number on his jersey.
The Giants number 1 was the first retired number in the history of the NFL. It’s a big deal. In response, Nabers said, “Thank you to the Flaherty family for allowing me to wear Number 1 for the New York Giants.” “I understand the responsibility. I will do everything in my power to honor the Flaherty family and this organization.” The Giants certainly hope so.
Giants Need Malik Nabers Rookie Numbers to Matter More Than His Jersey
Malik Nabers Projected Giants Numbers for His Rookie Year
Odds makers have placed the over/under for the New York Giants win at 6.5 and the first power rankings of NFL teams by ESPN picked the G-Men to finish dead last out of the thirty-two teams in the league. The prediction from most NFL observers and analysts is that the Giants will be a very bad team this year. One way that the Giants can prove the doubters wrong is a standout performance by Malik Nabers. Nabers’ projected numbers for his rookie year, according to Fantasy Pros are 81 receptions, more than receiving 1,067 yards, and six touchdowns.
For comparison, Justin Jefferson’s rookie numbers for the Minnesota Vikings were 88 receptions, 1,400 yards, and seven touchdowns. In Jefferson’s rookie year, the Vikings won seven games. Since his debut, the fellow LSU wideout has evolved into the premier wide receiver in the NFL.
Ironically, in their game-by-game breakdown of the Giants’ season, SI.com projects the Giants to finish the season with a 7-10 record. The most optimistic breakdown of the Giants’ season predicts nine wins, for a record of 9-8.
Who Was Ray Flaherty?
Ray Flaherty joined the New York Giants in 1929. After two years as the Gonzaga basketball coach, returned to the team in 1931 until his playing career ended in 1935. He later became a professional football coach for the Boston Redskins and is credited with the behind-the-line screen pass and the two-platoon substitution system. With the Yankees/Giants, Flaherty played end; a staple position of the offenses used throughout the NFL of the era. The end position is most like modern pro football’s tight end position. Ends lined up at the edge of the offensive line and were eligible receivers.
Flaherty was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976. Malik Nabers had his heart set on picking a single-digit number for his NFL career. Nabers wore number eight (8) at LSU, the number worn by quarterback Daniel Jones. During training camp, Nabers wore nine (9), but that number is currently worn by kicker Graham Gano. With all other single-digit numbers unavailable, conversations between Nabers and Giants brass took place about unretiring a number for the rookie to wear.
If the noise surrounding the Giants this preseason is to be believed, the Number 8 could be available next season. Giants’ fans hope their signal caller will still be with the team in 2025 because that means Big Blue had a winning 2024 season.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
