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Justin Tuck: A Giant career

By Ryan Disdier

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Justin Tuck
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Justin Tuck /
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Former New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck will retire at the age of 32. While the emotional player ended his career in Oakland, he’ll always be remembered for his time with Big Blue

The New York Giants are dealing with a current devoid of pass rushers, as well as emotion on the defensive side of the ball.

There was a time when that wasn’t the case, and one of the main reasons for that was Justin Tuck, who played defensive end and also served as the team’s defensive captain from 2010-2013.

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Tuck, 32, was everything a coach would want in a player, and he did his job with tremendous passion.

The Notre Dame product was selected by the Giants in third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Tuck joined a defensive line littered with Michael Strahan, the best defensive lineman in Giants history, and Osi Umenyiora, one of the league’s most lethal speed rushers.

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Tuck did little in his first two seasons, only recording one sack and 41 tackles. Tuck’s breakout party came in 2007, the year the Giants went to the Super Bowl.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo utilized Tuck exceptionally well, as the then third-year player racked up 10 sacks in only two starts. In the biggest game of the year, Tuck sacked New Englan’s Tom Brady twice. Tuck was a major force on one of the best defenses in Giants history, and Super Bowl 42 solidified Tuck’s spot as the next great Giants defensive end.

In 2008, Umenyiora suffered a torn ACL in the preseason. The defensive line was Tuck’s to handle. He responded with 67 tackles, 12 sacks and a pick-six, the first of his career. Tuck was named a First-Team All-Pro, and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Over the next two years, Tuck continued to prove to the rest of the NFL that he was one of the best all-around ends in the league. He was never just a pass rusher, as Tuck was good against the run, as well. He was a grinder who worked and worked until he got to the ball carrier.

In 2010, Tuck was named defensive captain, taking over for Antonio Pierce. Tuck was also once again nominated to the Pro Bowl in ’10, following a season in which he recorded 76 tackles and 11.5 sacks.

In 2011, a combination of physical and off-field issues plagued Tuck for the majority of the regular season. The two-time Pro Bowler missed four games in 2011, which negatively affected the defense. As Tuck explained in the 2011 edition of NFL Films’ America’s Game, his body was battered.

“I was dealing with groin issues, shoulder, foot, knee, torn ligaments in my hand,” Tuck said. “But when I did the neck, it takes away a little bit of the ability to edge. Whenever you go to contact a guy, there’s some doubt.”

Unfortunately, Tuck was dealing with personal troubles, as well, as his grandfather and two uncles passed away during the season.

In the America’s Game documentary, Tuck cites a particular one-on-one encounter with head coach Tom Coughlin, in which Coughlin told Tuck he’s a better player than what he was displaying on the field. Knowing he had an obligation to his teammates, coaches and fans, Tuck continued to play through pain and give every down his best effort.

Tuck’s resurgent play on the field, as well as his emotional style of play, helped propel the Giants from a 9-7 afterthought, to NFC Champions.

In the second Super Bowl of his career, after pumping up his teammates, Tuck once again put on a show for the football world. On New England’s first series, Tuck pressured Brady in the end zone, forcing him to throw the ball deep and to nobody in particular. The play was ruled intentional grounding, giving the Giants a safety.

Just like in Super Bowl 42, Tuck had made his presence felt.

The Giants once again won the Super Bowl, and Tuck became the only player in NFL history to record multiple sacks in multiple Super Bowls. Tuck struggled in 2012, but had a huge bounce-back year in 2013, recording a career-high 11 sacks.

Unfortunately, the Giants and Tuck were unable to strike a deal following the 2013 season. Tuck signed with the Oakland Raiders, bringing his signature intensity and leadership with him. In his second year in Oakland, Tuck was named team captain.

In his retirement announcement, Tuck said his battle with deciding whether to retire has been a ‘tug of war,’ and the ‘rope finally broke,’ according to FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo. Tuck also told Garafolo that if Tom Coughlin were still the head coach of the Giants and if the Giants were interested in bringing him back, he may have put off retiring for a little bit longer.

The rest of the NFL showed Tuck a tremendous amount of respect after he made his decision.

Tuck was truly one of the best defensive ends of his era. He was a versatile player who could play all along the defensive line. A true professional on and off the field, Tuck made his presence felt in New York and in Oakland.

Tuck will certainly wind up in the Giants Ring of Honor, and I’d be stunned if he didn’t sign a one-day contract to retire with the team that he won two championships with.

Congrats on a Giant career, Tuck.

Writer’s note:

It’s a shame Tuck’s final play didn’t come in blue… Tuck was an example of a new-era Giant who had an old-school style. He loved his teammates, the game of football and the New York Giants. He took his responsibility as captain seriously, but that’s why so many people respect him.

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As a member of the two most recent Giants Super Bowl victories, Tuck has created memories that will last in Giants fans’ memories forever. Whether he was sacking Brady in 42, or forcing Tony Romo to fumble in week 17 of 2011, Tuck was always a class act.

There are other memories I have, though, that are less of Tuck the football player and more of Tuck the person. Stuff like him carrying around Domenik Hixon on his shoulders, or inviting then-rookie Charles James to Thanksgiving dinner perfectly showcase what kind of man Tuck is.

He treated his teammates as family, and the fans just as well.

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