© Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward, quarterback from the University of Miami. Ward, who wore No. 1 all throughout his college career, seemingly had to find a new number as the Titans had retired the No. 1 worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. Moon, however, surprised Ward at his introductory press conference by revealing that he gave his blessing for the rookie star to wear No. 1.
New York Giants legend and fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame member Lawrence Taylor was not so benevolent. The Giants used the third pick in the draft to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Carter wore No. 11 in college, but approached Taylor to see if he could wear his iconic No. 56 in New York. Taylor wasn’t having it.
Lawrence Taylor Turns Down Abdul Carter While Warren Moon Embraces Cam Ward
“He has to be the player that he is,” Taylor told ESPN. “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.
“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.”
Taylor’s post-playing career has been littered with off-field drama. And while he’s earned the right to never see a Giants player wear No. 56 again, his response is in stark contrast to that of Moon.
“You start thinking about your legacy and the things that you established when you were playing,” Moon said following the first round of the NFL Draft. “You want to make sure those things continue. He has a chance to create a great legacy for that number with this organization, where I did mine with the Houston organization, even though we’re all part of the same thing.”
Of course, Moon did wear his number for a different team. While the Titans are technically the same organization as Moon’s Houston Oilers, the branding is not the same. So Moon will always have that honor. But it also goes to show that Moon’s legendary career is match by his remarkable character.