The Career Of Osi Umenyiora
By Eric Mollo
Two Super Bowl rings, 85 sacks, 35 forced fumbles—that’s all she wrote for one-time Giants standout Osi Umenyiora.
The two-time Pro Bowler will sign a one-day contract with the Giants on Wednesday afternoon to cap off quite a successful 11-year career full of zigs and zags.
Fitting Umenyiora retires a Giant—from a breakout 14.5 sack campaign in 2005, to a 75-yard fumble return that the Giants eventually rode to a 2007 Super Bowl victory—the 2003 second-round pick truly had superstar moments while wearing Blue. His 75 career sacks in New York are fourth most in Giants history, and he was a staple on one of the franchise’s greatest defenses during the 2007 season.
Of course, there were some downs too. A knee injury knocked him out in 2008—many thinking afterwards he would never return to his previously dominant form—and he was widely considered a weak run defender.
New York Giants
And while his tenure in New York did not necessarily end on bad terms, it wasn’t really a fairy tale either. Season after season of pleading for a new contract and reduced playing time left Giants fans somewhat aggravated with Umenyiora. He seemed unhappy for years, albeit somewhat quietly. And after watching a vaguely similar contract situation unfold with Jeremy Shockey—one that ended on poor terms—many began to grow tired of Umenyiora’s dissatisfaction and wanted him out.
Eventually, the sides settled, Umenyiora finished his nine years in a Giants uniform in peace, and he completed his final two seasons of his career in Atlanta.
But the good outdid the bad for Osi, and thankfully, we can remember—and really, should remember—all that Umenyiora gave to the Giants and the NFL.
His jolting speed off the edge and artful mastering of the strip sack made him one of this generation’s most exciting defenders to watch.
And it was Umenyiora who, along with Michael Strahan, continued to set the bar for greatness among future generations of Giants defensive lineman. Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul followed in their footsteps. And now with the team carrying a number of young defensive ends in Damontre Moore, Owa Odighizuwa, and Kerry Wynn, it’s their turn to fill those big shoes Umenyiora, Strahan, and Tuck left behind.
It’s comforting to know he wanted to retire wearing Giants blue. It’ll be a nice sight to see Wednesday afternoon.