The New York Giants pulled off one of the season’s biggest upsets Thursday night, crushing the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles 34-17 at MetLife Stadium. The win snapped Philadelphia’s perfect start and gave the Giants their second victory of the year.
John Mara Tells Giants Locker Room Beating Eagles Felt Better Than Chemo And Radiation
John Mara Tells Giants Locker Room Beating Eagles Felt Better Than Chemo And Radiation (Screenshot Via X/@MikeGarafolo)
But the locker room celebration became something much bigger when co-owner John Mara stepped to the center of the room and delivered words nobody in that building will ever forget.
John Mara Tells Giants Locker Room Beating Eagles Felt Better Than Chemo And Radiation
Head coach Brian Daboll set the stage after praising his squad’s toughness. “There’s one tough son of a b**** in here. His name’s John Mara,” Daboll announced, handing the 70-year-old owner a football as the locker room went wild.
Mara wasted no time getting real with his team. “I got two things to say. One; I’m telling you, all the chemo and all the radiation in the world doesn’t have the same effect as this,” hesaid. The Giants owner then hit them with the closer. “And the next thing I’ll say is, see you on Monday.”
An incredible victory speech from John Mara 💙
(via @Giants) pic.twitter.com/1iKcDlKDNK
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2025
Players and coaches mobbed Mara immediately. Daboll pulled him in for a long embrace while the entire room erupted. The moment carried extra weight considering what Mara’s been fighting off the field.
The Giants co-owner publicly announced his cancer diagnosis on September 29. His father Wellington and grandfather Tim fought the disease, but sadly both were defeated.
Mara said he feels strong and optimistic while working with a top medical team. He emphasized that he plans to remain active with the franchise during his treatment.
Thursday’s upset gave Mara a feeling that medical science cannot provide, pure joy. Rookie running back Cam Skattebo ran for 98 yards and scored three touchdowns on 19 carries against Philadelphia.
Quarterback Jameis Winston led the offense with precision. The defense limited the Super Bowl champions to just 17 points. Everything came together at the right moment for a franchise hungry for hope.
Giants Fans Rally Around John Mara After Powerful Cancer Battle Speech Goes Viral
The video of Mara’s speech hit social media and Giants fans immediately showed up with overwhelming support. The emotions ran deep across the fanbase.
One fanwrote, “John Mara is going to beat cancer just like we beat the unbeatable Patriots!”
Anotheradded, “That was a thoughtful and well-delivered statement from the team’s leadership.”
A thirdnoted, “Pure passion, pride, and tradition in every word. The Giants’ DNA runs deep 💙🏆” The franchise’s history of resilience clearly resonates with its supporters.
A fourth fanobserved, “You can tell what this win means to him and the whole organization.”
A fifth simplydeclared, “Amazing win for the Giants!!!! I can’t believe it and very happy for them.”
The Giants moved to 2-4 on the season while the Eagles fell to 5-1. New York still faces a challenging path to the playoffs, but Thursday night showed the team can compete with anyone when focused.
For Mara, the win offered a feeling that no medical treatment can give, a reminder of why he loves the franchise and wants to stay involved for many more years.