Don’t rule out a familiar face returning to the Meadowlands. Just like Odell Beckham Jr, ESPN reported that Jason Pierre-Paul would welcome an NFL return with the team that drafted him in the first round in 2010.
"I think that'll be dope. Tremendous," Pierre-Paul told ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan. "To go back somewhere where my career started ... 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."
JPP is ready to return to where it all began
Pierre-Paul, now 36, didn’t take the field in 2024 after last playing for the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins in 2023.
But the Super Bowl-winning pass rusher has never officially retired, and his unfinished business has him ready for a comeback. Sitting at 94.5 career sacks, he’s just 5.5 shy of reaching the coveted 100-sack milestone — a number he’d ideally like to hit wearing the New York Giants’ blue.
JPP spent eight seasons in the Big Apple, recording 58.5 sacks, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to his burst and toughness off the edge. The USF product was traded to the Bucs in 2018 but never lost his connection to New York — or its fanbase.
That toughness was never more evident than in the aftermath of his infamous Fourth of July fireworks accident in 2015, which cost him 2½ fingers. While many thought he wouldn't play again, he reinvented his game and played nearly a decade longer, including a Super Bowl run with Tampa Bay in 2020.
Now, a decade removed from that accident, he’s made it his mission not only to push forward but also to educate others. Pierre-Paul has become a vocal fireworks safety advocate, hoping to prevent others from repeating his mistake.
But this reunion makes a lot of sense for the G-Men. The three-time Pro Bowler could serve as a fantastic mentor for rookie Abdul Carter– and maybe teach a thing or two to Kayvon Thibodeaux as his name is at the center of trade rumors entering a contract year.
Adding a proven veteran with championship pedigree could be invaluable both on the field and in the locker room.
Especially since the Giants won their last Super Bowl in 2011, the defensive line was stronger, and Pierre-Paul was the head of the snake. He recorded a career-high 16.5 sacks at just 22 years old and could provide Shane Bowen’s defense a vocal presence in the locker room.
At this stage in his career, Pierre-Paul isn’t seeking the spotlight. He’s chasing to preserve his legacy in one final chapter with the team that gave him his first.
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