Jason Pierre-Paul is eyeing a return to the New York Giants, and he's making it known loud and clear. After stepping away from the NFL for a year, the seasoned pass-rusher suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in three games last season. Now, at 37, he's campaigning for another go with the Giants.
In a spirited social media post, Pierre-Paul reached out directly to the Giants and their fans, saying, “@nygiants I’m still available and ready to take on some OT’s and dominate in run-stop football the GIANTS WAY. Let’s make it happen, Giant Fans, Giant Nation.
Let’s go!! I know I know I know.”
Drafted 16 years ago by the Giants as the 15th overall pick, JPP quickly made a name for himself. His standout performance in 2011, with 16.5 sacks, was pivotal in leading New York to a Super Bowl victory.
Over eight seasons with the Giants, he racked up 58.5 sacks, placing him 10th on the franchise's all-time list. His impressive stats also include 432 tackles, seven fumble recoveries, and two pick-sixes.
Despite a setback in 2015 due to a fireworks accident that caused a serious hand injury, Pierre-Paul bounced back and continued to contribute significantly for two more seasons with the Giants. He then moved to Tampa Bay, where he added 30.5 sacks to his resume from 2018 to 2020 and grabbed another Super Bowl ring.
After a stint with the Buccaneers, Pierre-Paul played 14 games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. The following year, he had brief appearances with the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints before taking a break in 2024. Last season, he returned to Tampa Bay's practice squad and was elevated for the final three games, though his on-field contributions were limited to one pass defense in 38 snaps.
While it's been a minute since Pierre-Paul was a game-changer, he's not ready to hang up his cleats just yet. As free agency kicked off, he made his intentions clear: “Still got the fire, still got the speed.
I’m explosive, just waiting for the call. Let’s make it happen.”
The question now is whether the Giants will answer his call and bring back one of their former defensive stalwarts for what could be a storybook second chapter.