The New York Giants Need to Find Another Way to Honor Their Franchise Greats—Because Retiring Numbers Is Stupid
The New York Giants, one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the NFL, have a long tradition of excellence and legendary players. From Lawrence Taylor and Frank Gifford to Eli Manning and Michael Strahan, the team’s history is rich with icons who shaped the game. However, the way the Giants choose to honor these players—by retiring jersey numbers—is a dated and increasingly impractical tradition. It’s time for the team to adopt a smarter, more inclusive way to celebrate their legends, because retiring numbers is, quite frankly, a stupid practice.
Retiring numbers may sound like a noble tribute, but in a sport with 53-man rosters and a limited range of eligible jersey numbers (especially under NFL position-based numbering rules), the math doesn’t work. There are only so many two-digit numbers to go around. Once a franchise starts retiring numbers with any regularity, it creates a logistical nightmare. The Giants have already retired 12 numbers. Add in players whose numbers are informally off-limits, and you start shrinking the pool even more. At some point, you’re making it harder on current and future players to choose a number that fits both their identity and positional guidelines.
This isn’t a hypothetical issue—it’s already a concern. As teams like the Giants continue to honor players in this way, they’re edging closer to a future where they might have to unretire numbers, a move that would undermine the entire premise of the gesture. Or worse, they may have to start breaking from tradition by not retiring numbers for future icons who clearly deserve recognition. Either path is messy and avoidable.
There are better alternatives—smarter, more creative, and more lasting ways to honor franchise legends. Build statues. Erect a Ring of Honor in the stadium. Create interactive museum exhibits. Use digital storytelling, highlight reels, and player tributes to immortalize what these men have done for the organization. These methods are not only more sustainable but allow multiple greats to be celebrated without having to lock away a dwindling resource like jersey numbers.
Think about it: is a number being off-limits really the best way to carry on a player’s legacy? When a young linebacker wears #56 in tribute to Lawrence Taylor and goes on to greatness, that’s a living tribute—not a forgotten number in a glass case. Numbers on the field, in action, are far more powerful symbols than those hidden away. Retiring a number cuts off its relevance; it fossilizes the legacy instead of letting it inspire.
The Giants, as one of the league’s proudest franchises, should lead the way in rethinking this approach. Fans will still revere the greats. No one is going to forget Eli Manning if his number gets worn again by some future quarterback—especially if that quarterback was inspired by Manning himself. The essence of honoring history isn’t about putting it under glass; it’s about letting it breathe in the present.
It’s time the New York Giants evolved their traditions. Retire the practice of retiring numbers and find a better, more meaningful way to honor the legends who made the franchise what it is today.
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