Why A Giants Reunion with This Super Bowl Champion Is a Bad Idea

There will always be superstars in the NFL who want to play the game and continue to play even after they have retired. Former Giants edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul is one of the most beloved New York Football Giants ever. After taking a season off, he recently stated that he wants to return to being an NFL star and play once again for the Giants. The feeling of nostalgia is there, but it is too late for him to hit for the Big Blue again. 

Pierre-Paul was drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Giants with the 15th overall pick out of South Florida. He became a big name around the NFL when this former Giant started producing 16.5 sacks in 2011. Pierre-Paul also had a serious hand injury that resulted in the amputation of two of his fingers on his right hand. However, despite all this, he went with the Giants to their Super Bowl run that same year. In 2018, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played for other teams before retiring. 

Since then, the Giants have grown and made many changes to the team. At this point, the Giants have built a very young team. It would not be the best idea if they were to sign Pierre-Paul to the roster. They have Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is just coming out of a breakout year, and Brian Burns, who is also stepping in to have another great season. Bringing in Pierre-Paul would cut into reps that should go to these guys. 

Another area to look at is that Pierre-Paul is not the player he used to be. He hasn’t played or posted more than 4.5 sacks for an entire year since the 2021 season. He’s also gotten much older and has slowed down since his prime days several years ago. This former Super Bowl champion would also be taking up roster space to take the young talent the Giants desperately needed and wanted. It would not be the best for the Giants’ current plan. 

As much as it would be interesting to see him again, making his return would tarnish his career. Many fans want to see classic Giants return, such as him and Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants are very much trying to move ahead. They are building forward and not backward. The smart move is to leave this legacy untouched.