After wearing the No. 9 jersey during preseason, New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers is making a change ahead of their Week 1 clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team announced on X/Twitter their top pick in the 2024 NFL draft will don the No. 1 jersey in his debut season.It's a massive honor for Nabers, as the jersey number had been retired since 1935 in honor of Ray Flaherty. The Hall of Famer's family gave the franchise permission to unretire the number and hand it to their new wide receiver. Nabers expressed his gratitude for the gesture in a statement:"Thank you to the Flaherty family for allowing me to wear No. 1 for the New York Giants. 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 said.The move garnered mixed reactions from Giants fans. Some were ecstatic about Nabers donning the historic jersey number:Many also voiced their displeasure about the move, claiming that that wide receiver should have to earn the honor of wearing the jersey number, not simply be handed it:"Imagine if he busts," @BillTinkle said."He better not be a bust," @gridirongage added."I’m sorry but the first ever to be retired should stay retired," @NYGFans10 opined."Rookies NEVER should be able to unretire a number. Come on man...," @FiguredUout21 said.The move has seemingly split Giants fans into two sides, but both undoubtedly agree that Malik Nabers will have to play exceptionally well to justify taking Flaherty's jersey number.Who was Ray Flaherty? Exploring Giants icon's legacyRay Flaherty's football career began in 1926 with the AFL's Los Angeles Wildcats. He then joined the short-lived New York Yankees football team, where he spent two seasons before joining the New York Giants in 1929.Flaherty left them in 1930 to coach the Gonzaga football team, before returning a year later. He spent the next five seasons with the Giants before calling it a day on his playing career. He earned an All-Pro nod in each of his six seasons with the team and did his best work in the 1932 campaign.Flaherty led the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns that year, helping the Giants win the 1934 NFL championship before hanging his boots in 1935.The franchise subsequently honored his contributions by making him only the second professional athlete in American sports after ice hockey star Ace Bailey – and the first football player – to have their jersey retired.What do you think of Malik Nabers wearing the No. 1 jersey next season? How do you think the New York Giants will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.