Abdul Carter is creating a buzz in the NFL world with his requests for jersey numbers 56 and 11 being denied. While the rookie wore the #11 Stix at Penn State and carried the legacy well, Giants legends LB Lawrence Taylor (56) and QB Phil Simms (11) need time to trust him. But if we look back in history, an NFL player became so big that he eventually got the number he wanted. This is the story that took place between Jerry Rice and Seahawks legend Steve Largent.
Rice legend left the Niners after the 2000 season, joining the Raiders in 2001, where he played three seasons. He wore jersey number 80 on his first team, which he easily got on the AFC West team, too. But when he joined the Seahawks in 2004, there was an issue with the jersey number 80. It had another iconic name attached. It was Steve Largent. But since the WR had already created his legacy as a 3-time Super Bowl winner, he talked to Largent, the Seahawks icon and his childhood inspiration, for donning that jersey.
Now former Seahawks QB, Matt Hasselbeck, who appeared on The Rich Eisen Show on Monday, May 5, revealed what took place back then. He said, “It’s not a young guy, old guy thing, like when I was in Seattle, numbers mean something to players. Jerry Rice signed with the Seattle Seahawks late in his career. He wanted to wear 80. And 80 was basically retired because Steve Largent, a Hall of Fame wide receiver for Seattle. And it was a thing like, you know, basically, Steve Largent got put in a tough spot. Jerry Rice, the greatest receiver of all time, asked ‘What are you gonna do, say no?’ It’s a little bit harder to say no there, and then he wore 80.” That was interesting. Players do get attached to their jersey numbers.
The Hawks retired jersey number 80 in 1992 after Largent retired in 1989. Popularly known as Yoda for his ability to catch anything, he even had a record 100 TD receptions until Jerry Rice broke it. While Rice justified his fight for the jersey number of a legend, DE Abdul Carter’s request to Lawrence Taylor, which he turned down right away, reignited this debate. He even told the rookie to create his own legacy. When Carter made the same request to Phil Simms, he initially agreed but later denied, citing his family’s refusal to unretire the number.
Numbers definitely carry the legacy. No one knows it better than Jerry Rice.
Credits: Imago
He started playing in 1985 and stuck to the 49ers for a long time before experimenting with other NFL franchises. But when he announced his retirement in 2005, the 49ers signed a one-day contract worth $ 1,985,806.49 to retire him from the same team where he started playing. But the amount carried huge significance, 1985 – the year he started playing, his number – 80, the year he signed the one-day contract – 6, and the team – 49.
Jerry Rice wanted the jersey number at any cost!
The rookie Abdul Carter has accepted both refusals with grace. The gritty player replied, “My stance doesn’t change, LT is the GOAT, nothing but respect… This is just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it.” That’s fine. It made the fans respect him even more. But Jerry Rice was ruthless. He didn’t take no for an answer.
Hasselbeck himself admitted it while defining the scenario when the WR wanted number 80. The ex-NFLer added, “I was fine with it. The team was fine with it. Jerry, obviously was fine with it, but the fans didn’t. (It didn’t) sit well with some of those old school Kingdom fans, like it didn’t sit well with them. So, it’s a tricky thing.”
Fans were bound to get angry.
Steve Largent played all 14 seasons for the Seahawks, earning 7 Pro Bowl selections. He finished 2 seasons as the NFL receiving yards leader (1979 and 1985). Even the University of Tulsa retired Largent’s jersey number 83 in 2008. However, Jerry Rice was already a standout performer when he asked for the jersey number.
So maybe Abdul Carter will have to perform on an ultra-competitive level before asking for legendary jersey numbers. Will the DE do that, or will he chart his own legacy? The second option seems more viable.
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