The last player to wear the number 13 for the New York Giants was three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Bcckham Jr., who spent five seasons with the Giants before being traded to the Browns in 2019.
Four years later, there’s a new number 13 in New York, Giants rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.
The 21-year-old was selected in the third round by the Giants out of Tennessee in this year’s draft.
Hyatt wore number 11 in college, but that number was worn by Giants great Phil Simms and was retired by the team. In the preseason, Hyatt wore the number 84, but as the season approached, he picked a new number, and this week he discussed the reasoning behind choosing number 13.
“Most of the decision was mine,” Hyatt said. “I asked some of my teammates what they thought, and they told me, “You should do it,” so I decided to make that change. I can’t wait to go out there week one with that jersey number and do what I do.”
Hyatt said he met Beckham before the draft and had nothing but praise for the now-Ravens wide receiver.
“I met him down in AZ(Arizona) during the draft process,” he said. “He was working out, and we started talking. At first, I didn’t know – I was surprised he knew who I was. It shows a lot of love that he has for the Giants. A lot of respect for him…
“What he did here – had a great career with the Giants and kind of took over. I was a fan when I was young watching him. High school, college, and now being here, but just with the jersey number, it’s just one of those things I wanted to start my own legacy. I like low numbers, and if I had to choose a number, it’d be 11, but it’s retired here, so can’t go with that one, so 13 would be the next option.”
Hyatt may have put some extra pressure on himself. However, he comes off as a very confident player, and fortunately for him, 13 is a lucky number, so things may work out in his favor.
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