Former New York Giants OL Justin Pugh officially announces his retirement from the NFL and reflects on his time both in the Giants’ organization and his stint in Arizona.
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What’s up, guys? Picked up picked a nice warm
day. I wanted to make sure everybody had a had a chance to go break a
little sweat before we got in here, for those who don’t know, I’m
just a few played here, six of my 11 years, in the NFL,
and not many players, get to go out on their terms. And after 11
years playing in the NFL, I am officially retiring from
the league play 11. Last year, thought I
was going to do. Another one. Just didn’t have it in the have
it in a tank started losing. Weights that are feeling good and didn’t want to didn’t want to do
a 12 year. Ended up going into the stands with the fans
for my 12th year but like every little boy, I
always dreamed of playing in the NFL or some sport, probably
ice hockey actually growing up and I always mimic that game.
Winning shot of the game winning catch. I definitely
never planned on making a block so he like a throw the ball down
the field her or Kyla Marie could make some. I never
dreamed of being an offensive lineman I don’t think any little
boys are out there right now. Call me pass satin and blocking
them in the playoffs to make something happen. But what I realized that
offensive line was it was the position that was for me. It
was, it was, I was built perfectly forward and something
that you don’t, you don’t choose everyone wants to be that
star position. But it’s something that really
defined me as a man as a father and as a teammate. So really I wanted to do a lot of thank yous. Today,
to be quite honest with you guys, I’ll answer any questions
but like, I have my, my direct family here today and never got
a chance. It’s to thank them publicly first just quick.
Highlights went back where I’m from Bucks County Pennsylvania.
Rolling Hills Elementary how a Middle School Council Rock
South. And I’m going to thank all my
teammates that I play with their, I’m good. I’m gonna put
out a longer post. Thank you, everyone more individually. But
first, I want to thank everyone there. Then Syracuse University really made me from this y Dy,
freshman calling my mom. Crying thing I couldn’t play division,
one to be an NFL prospect, and getting the chance to hear my
name called, Moving on from Syracuse, coming
to the New York Giants. I remember when I got drafted,
we just kept saying this is not just because I grew up an Eagles
fan, the S the New York Giants. I just kept saying I can all and I got here and got a chance to see what
it’s like to play for the New York Jets and Giants and it was
a dream come true. I still get Goose Bumps talking about it. Yeah. Yeah. It was it was good. So moving on I left the Giants
and really when I want to Arizona’s, where I learned about
the business of sports, you don’t always I never in a
million years thought I’d ever leave the New York Giants and go
anywhere else and Arizona is really where I grew up as a man. I grew up as
a father. I want moved out there with my now wife and we
were both. We were both kids at the time
and now I’m coming back with my daughter in our hands and I
always, we always promised there. We get her back on the
field. Now, I’m not wearing Ads like I wish I was but we still
got her back on the field. Nonetheless. And Arizona. I just really want to thank that
Organization for what they did for me and my family the
bidwells. It was a tremendous opportunity for me to go out
there after 10 years. I thought it was
over. I tore my ACL the the career was done, I had never
been injured like that in my in my entire career. So I said hey
it’s time to hang them up. I can’t imagine how many
countless times. My family came out to Arizona for the last
game. It was always the last game. The last Last time I went
out there and just really felt like it was it all of a sudden the New York
Giants are in town and they’re like, hey, we had a left guard,
get her playing the Cardinals, you think there’s an opportunity
for you to come back now. I weigh 270
pounds in the time. I lied to Josh and those guys told him I
was a little bit heavier. You guys all saw me like there was
really no hiding how much I waited that time. But the end of the day, I knew
something that was that always stuck with me. The Giants gave
me my opportunity and they were something special about putting
that New York logo on one more time. They were something
special. So about finishing my career where I started, there
was something special about being back in this city and I knew I had to jump at
the opportunity, so I hadn’t put a pads on. I went out
and did a little workout and lo and behold, we had a little
little straight off the couch moment, which was amazing. I
could have ended my career at that, after that game, that’s
probably why. Joe Shane had to negotiate with me a little bit
because I was ready to walk away. It was like my with your Shield or on it
moment. I went out there on Sunday
football hadn’t played in a year and got after it and we still
should have won that game. I’m telling the raps right now. We
should have won that one. But really, I gave everything
that year. I get everything. I had this organization to my
family, I was amazing moment to have my family be able to come
back out and be a part of that. And that, that was when I knew
it was done. Last year, I never was a never thought. I was going to
come back and play last year to be quite honest with you. So,
with that being said, I love to thank the New York, Giants
organization on my teammates that I play with, throughout the
years. There’s so many of my teammates, the offensive line room, like my
guys, I love you. I love you so much, man. I was
the my favorite part was as being a part of the group being
a part of the team. I want to thank the mayor, the Tisch
family, and then all the unsung heroes
everyone that it’s in this building, all the staff, the
security, the beat writers, all you guys
have become my friends throughout the years, the
content creators are now gone into that space a little bit. So
I want to thank you guys personally for helping me. Share
my story with the fans to the fans. It’s been an amazing ride. The
support you guys have shown me has been tremendous. I would
never would have thought. I’d spent 12 years in the NFL I say
now, I spent 11 at the player in the I spent the last one is a
professional fan. I want to every Thursday night football game last year and really got a
sense of what goes into the fandom of
this game and what makes this so special? Why all of us have
jobs here today is because those people that were outside cheering their heads off. So I
will never take for granted how important
those folks are, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for
supporting me through the good, the bad, the ups &
Downs. All right. Now I’m going to try
to not get too emotional. I heard a couple guys here. I’ve
gotten emotional before. I want to thank my friends, my
family obviously couldn’t done it
without you guys keep my head on straight. And again, all
those last games that I kept putting you guys through every
player, has a team and my team was one of the best.
Everyone always puts it in air quotes. What is a team, you
know, I have to give a shout out to my, my agent Andy Ross
from the day. He I sign with him, taking care of us and
taking care of our Our family to my uncle first and
my financial advisor second, John Whitehead, he’s someone that has guided me
through that process and has really formed while the
opinions, I feel about finances and how guys, take care of it,
which I love to talk more about as we continue. When you marry someone, you
marry their family. So I they’re not here right now,
my in-laws time. Maria, my brother-in-law Sal just happy to
be a part of that that crew to my crew of friends, the crew
it’s always been from the womb to the tomb. I love you guys to
my siblings that are Here today, it’s always been about competition in our family. It’s
always been about hard work. I think about all, like the
backyard, the cross-sections we
had or making me play goalie with
one leg pad and having to having to overcome that. I truly
believe, like the competition. In the way we
grew up with the hard work and the dedication gave me the edge
and how I played as a player. So I thank you guys for for,
creating that environment. Yeah. To my parents Carolyn and
Frank. This would have been possible
without your support. I was going to add live here but
I really I’m just going to read it. I might have been a failed
defensive lineman Frank if you didn’t push me to the side. When I was at
Eric’s, I always thought myself in the defensive lineman, my stepdad Frank, he really has
been my father throughout my whole life. He’s always been
that person. I always call it doesn’t get enough. Thanks from all the trips to Sarah. Cuse to Missouri to Seattle,
Washington. You guys have been there through
it. All and always knew you’d be there
for me and to my mom, I’m crying because she’s crying.
I’m not crying for any other reason. My mom cries just
from happiness of coming into the game. So, I truly believe I
did that from her to be able to play in this business. You realize,
who means the most you. And every tough game, I had every
every incident and my throughout my entire life,
you’ve always been there, Mom, I love you. To my daughter Josephine. I always said that mommy, and daddy made a promise
to bring you back. I didn’t get a chance to have
you on the field. You were in
mommy’s belly, but I love you and she had to run around today and
have a fantastic afternoon to my wife. Angela We like I said, we left New Yorkers
kids and we came back as parents. We came back as
adults, life hasn’t always been easy. You’ve been with me
through the the lowest of lows in the highest of highs for me.
Tara my knee and not being able to walk around to deal with me, trying to figure out if I’m
going to play football or not. And what that next phase looks
like and no one ever talks about how hard that can be on a
family, can be a hard on, you know, relationships with our
daughter and you’ve been there and been my rock through
all of it wasn’t for you. We wouldn’t, we wouldn’t be
standing where we are at today and as happy as we are, So I
said with a smile on my face and No More Tears. I’ve always prided myself on
consistency, like, regardless of the highs,
the lows I’ve been on a bad teams. We started out Owen, six
my rookie year. I’d always keep proud of myself on you know
what? You’re getting from Justin few every single day from
the guys in the room. So, the coaches in the room, they always knew that when you
walked in just a, was going to put a smile on your face. And
that’s what I hope I did for you guys. That’s what I hope I
did for this fan base. More potent than somebody with
my teammates, my coaches. The guys that I respect and I love
so much, I realize now Then even know I never dreamed
of being an offensive. Lineman it was my calling. I was built
to work alongside other guys. I was built to be part of a
five-man unit that had to work as one I was built for those offensive
line, dinners or we talked about everything other than
football and got to know each other and
love one another, I was built to help players
figure out what they want to do beyond the game and that’s what
my purpose. My passion and everything will be focused
towards going forward and at the end of the day, it’s been a hell of a ride wife like football, isn’t about the wins or losses. It’s about the journey, the
people in The Memories, We create along the way. So thank
you to football. Thank you. Everyone out there that has
supported this journey. More spoiling. Thank you to my
family. Love you guys go. Giants. Go Cardinals. Will see you guys next time. Thanks.
3 Comments
🫡 We appreciate you bro. Congrats 🔵🔴
I will forever bleed blue 💙❤️
Great career. Once a Giant always a Giant!