Lawrence Taylor, who many consider the greatest defensive player in NFL history, is back in the headlines. He recently turned down a request from aspiring linebacker Daniel Carter to wear his legendary number 56. The decision follows a phone conversation facilitated by Taylor’s longtime agent, Mark Lepselter, and Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus. Repeatedly on the call, Taylor insisted that he bore no malice toward Carter’s plans. His relentless focus was on developing a league reputation for quality.
Taylor, whose number 56 was retired by the New York Giants and his legendary playmaking made it iconic. He selected it to pay tribute to longtime linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson. We learned that Henderson had worn the same number during his time in the Dallas Cowboys. Given the profound significance attached to the number 56, which has since been retired in Taylor’s honor, he respectfully declined Carter’s request.
Carter’s recent visit to the Giants facility for a pre-draft assessment. He posted a picture of himself with Taylor’s portrait hanging on the wall behind him to demonstrate his happiness at getting to meet the football icon. Even though he was understandably disheartened that his emergency request was turned down, Carter continued to be polite and professional, clearly determined.
“The worst thing he could say was NO!! My stance don’t change, LT is the GOAT nothing but respect… This just gonna make me work even harder!! I love it.” – Daniel Carter
Taylor stressed that his decision was not intended to discourage Carter. He inspired him to find his own sense of self on the gridiron.
“And I’m hoping that he’s not thinking that, ‘Oh, I got shot down by LT.’ No, it isn’t like that, man. It’s, ‘Hey, I’m with you!’ I mean, I’m the guy that it takes two. I’m going to be two steps behind you and make sure you don’t fall.” – Lawrence Taylor
Carter hopes to do what Taylor did. This ambition is indicative of the impact that the Hall of Famer and former linebacker has had on new generations of players. At the keynote, Taylor cautioned to not over-duplicate his career path.
“He has to be the player that he is. He can’t be another Lawrence Taylor. Well, he may be better than a Lawrence Taylor, who knows. But he has to make his mark. It’s up to him.” – Lawrence Taylor
Taylor’s interest in Carter’s growth goes beyond the dollar figure. His first step was to secure a meeting at the Giants’ facility next month to provide troubleshooting and other ongoing support. This frank discussion is a testament to Taylor’s desire to guide the next generation of athletes and help them establish their own place in the game.
As the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, Taylor himself was under extreme pressure to succeed. He became known for his fierce playing style and transformative impact on defense, ultimately earning him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on, inspirational to aspiring athletes such as Carter, who told the world he wanted to run with the great ones.
“I haven’t met him yet, but I feel like eventually I will. But he’s the greatest football player of all time, somebody I look up to. Just want to follow in his footsteps, knowing how great he was. I just want to chase greatness, and knowing that he was the best, that’s what I want to chase.” – Daniel Carter
Leave a Reply