Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the fireworks accident that cost former New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre‑Paul 2.5 fingers on his right hand.
Across 14 NFL seasons, Pierre‑Paul compiled 94.5 sacks, 167 quarterback hits and 631 total tackles, placing him among the top edge defenders of his era.
In his conversation with ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on Friday, Pierre‑Paul didn’t shy away from his aspiration to continue playing.
When asked about returning to the Giants, where "my career started," he said, "I think that’ll be dope. Tremendous … the fans know me and know the type of player that I am. I’ll always be that type of player and just give ’em everything I got, which I know it’ll be more than enough."
Selected 15th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft out of South Florida, Pierre‑Paul quickly emerged as one of the league’s premier pass rushers, tallying a career‑best 16.5 sacks in 2011 and earning First‑Team All‑Pro honors after helping the Giants capture Super Bowl XLVI following the 2011 season.
After the 2015 fireworks accident in which he lost 2.5 fingers, Pierre‑Paul defied expectations by returning for eight late‑season games that same year and added 15.5 sacks over the next two Giants campaigns.
Following a trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, he posted double‑digit sacks again in 2018 (12.5), earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 and won a second championship with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV that same year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (90) reacts on the sidelines.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul (90) reacts on the sidelines.
© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
However, after stints with the Baltimore Ravens (2022), New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins (2023), Pierre‑Paul went unsigned for the entire 2024 season.
At 36 years old, he’s recently been posting intense workout clips on social media, reporting his playing weight back at 270 pounds and insisting “I’ve got abs! I haven’t had abs since my rookie year” in an interview in May.
With a relatively young pass rushing unit of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and this year's No. 3 overall draft pick, Abdul Carter, the Giants could benefit from adding a savvy veteran like Pierre-Paul.