The sports world absorbed a gut punch earlier this week. News broke that Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland tragically took his own life, sending shockwaves across the NFL community.
In the aftermath of that devastating loss, New York Giants kicker Graham Gano stepped forward to address a different crisis that’s been festering in the shadows, the toxic hostility athletes now face from fans on a daily basis.
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As the 38-year-old veteran continues wrestling with his own injury demons, he opened up about the relentless harassment that’s become part of his routine. Death threats, vile messages, and attacks on social media have escalated dramatically over the past three seasons.
The culprit? Sports betting and the internet’s darkest corners have turned frustrated gamblers into keyboard warriors with zero boundaries.
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“I hear everyone else’s frustration — media, fans. Shoot, ever since sports betting started happening, I get people telling me to kill myself every week,” Gano said. “‘Cause I’ll hit a kick that loses them money. I’ll miss a kick and it loses them money. It was the other day that someone told me to get cancer and die. I mean, that stuff’s part of it.”
Graham Gano says it's been "unbelievably frustrating" to deal with injuries & shares he's heard from fans in his DMs:
"Ever since sports betting started happening, I get people telling me to kill myself every week. The other day somebody told me to get cancer and die" pic.twitter.com/KadI6omuq1
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 6, 2025
That’s not normal. But somehow, after years of absorbing this abuse, Gano has convinced himself it comes with the territory. Still, beneath the thick skin he’s built, there’s a player desperately trying to stay healthy, get back on the field, and silence the doubters.
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His latest setback arrived in the form of a herniated disc diagnosis. Initially, Gano thought he’d just slept funny and gutted through a game against the San Fransisco 49ers anyway.
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) stretches during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Then Monday happened, a weightlifting session went sideways, and the pain became impossible to ignore. He hasn’t practiced since and might miss Sunday’s trip to Chicago. If Graham Gano can’t go, veteran Younghoe Koo will step in.
An injection provided some temporary relief, but Gano’s injury history tells a troubling story. Three seasons of missed time, various ailments piling up, and a stint on injured reserve earlier this year with a groin injury have made him an easy scapegoat for Giants fans watching their season unravel.
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