Malik Nabers stunning early impact underlined by historic special request to unretire the first number ever retired as rookie expectations soar

The New York Giants might not win a lot of games this season.

But they’ve already stunned fans and made history before Week 1.

The Giants have created a social-media storm by giving No. 1 to rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was the No. 6 overall pick out of LSU.

Handing No. 1 to Nabers might not sound like a huge deal — until the history behind that special number is revealed.

The Giants have been around for 100 years and are one of the NFL’s most famous teams.

The first jersey number retired in the NFL was No. 1 for New York’s Giants, and it was last worn by end Ray Flaherty in 1935.

Almost 90 years later, a rookie who’s yet to play a real game now wears the number again.

“Ice cold,” one fan tweeted.

“Wow!” a second fan wrote. “I’m legitimately stunned the Giants unretired Flaherty’s number. It’s a pleasant surprise.”

“I’ll be buying me one,” a third fan posted.

Other were less than impressed.

“Unretired a legend’s number for a potential bust,” a fan said. “OK, then.”

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Flaherty was born in 1903 and died in 1994 at 90.

He made three All-Pro teams, won an NFL championship and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976.

Flaherty spent his first two seasons with the NFL’s New York Yankees, then played for the Giants from 1929-35.

He totaled 41 catches for 626 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, while also throwing four passes and kicking.

Flaherty then coached the Boston and Washington Redskins (now known as the Commanders), Yankees, and Chicago Hornets.

“Thank you to the Flaherty family for allowing me to wear Number 1 for the New York Giants,” Nabers said in a statement.

“I understand the responsibility, and I will do everything in my power to honor the Flaherty family and this organization.

“I will wear the number with great pride. Can’t wait for the season to start.”

Nabers spent three seasons at LSU, earning All-American status in 2023 while catching 89 balls for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns – and he has already had Giants fans drooling over his training camp displays.

But the NFL is a very different deal, and Nabers was not even the first receiver selected – that honor went to Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the fourth overall pick.

With Saquon Barkley trying to power the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, it could be a long season for Nabers in New York.

But he’s already had a big personal win, since Nabers was just given the first retired jersey number in NFL history.

Nabers wore No. 8 at LSU, but that numbers belongs to quarterback Daniel Jones on the Giants.