Giants make unprecedented move to unretire number for rookie Malik Nabers

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The New York Giants have yet to see its first-round draft choice, wide receiver Malik Nabers, take a snap in the regular season, yet they have made the decision to unretire a number for him.

It is not just any number either. It is Ray Flaherty’s No. 1, the first-ever retired number in pro football history. 

Flaherty, a Hall of Famer, had his No. 1 retired in 1935. The Giants announced the move, saying the Flaherty family gave permission to have Nabers wear the number.

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New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, #9, makes a catch during warmups before the game against the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Now, Nabers had been looking to change his number from No. 9, as the New York Post first reported. He attempted to talk to backup quarterback Drew Lock, #2, and punter Jamie Gillan, #6. Those talks never worked out to be something. 

Nabers, who wore No. 8 during his days at LSU, told the Post that he had those talks with Lock and Gillan "only because it was gonna be pretty hard at trying to get the jersey unretired."

However, team co-owner John Mara went to bat for Nabers, who said that "No. 1 would be fine." 

GIANTS ROOKIE MALIK NABERS ALREADY TROLLING DIVISION RIVAL BEFORE MAKING DEBUT

Ray Flaherty Jr. ended up giving Mara the family’s blessing for No. 1, making sure that the number is "re-retired" once Nabers’ Giants career comes to an end. 

"After thinking about it a little bit, my feeling was we would allow that only if the Flaherty family was OK with it," Mara told the Post. "I think it’s very gracious on their part, and Malik