The three kickers the New York Giants trotted out before Ben Sauls this season have all come and gone. Their revolving door at the position has mostly gone unnoticed amid what's been a train wreck campaign for the franchise.
As fans begrudgingly know, the Giants' inability to consistently put the ball through the uprights has been a long-standing problem that predates 2025. Nevertheless, it's a concerning storyline that remains unresolved, but that's where Sauls comes in.
Being asked to step in and fix a glaring, recurring issue comes with a fair share of pressure in itself. That strain increases tenfold in New York, AKA the largest market in North American sports. Yet, Sauls sounded grateful for the chance to showcase his skills on a big stage when addressing the media during the Giants' Week 16 preparation.
Ben Sauls is looking forward to the challenge of being the New York Giants' kicker
New York signed Sauls to the practice squad on Nov. 11 and is the next man up following Younghoe Koo's recent release. The 24-year-old rookie has been on two NFL rosters but has yet to make his debut. He'll finally get an opportunity to do so as a member of the Giants, which is as daunting as it is exciting -- but not for him.
"Blessed to be in New York. I love New York," Sauls told reporters (h/t SNY Giants). "This is the place that's preparing me to give me my first opportunity, so I'm pretty pumped about it."
Sauls' mindset might be exactly what the G-Men need to put their deep-rooted concerns behind them. Each booter general manager Joe Schoen has brought in has ostensibly folded under the New York spotlight because it's all they can think about. This fear lingers and causes doubt to creep into their minds, and that's what gets them chewed up and spit out.
Kicking is as much a mental game as it is a physical one, and the Giants' struggles this year serve as a prime example. They're 21st in field goal percentage (83.3) and dead last in extra point conversion rate (85.3 percent) through 15 weeks despite deploying two Pro Bowlers. It's a reminder that even the best in the business haven't mastered the psychological aspect of the job.
Before landing with the Giants, Sauls spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons. He entered the league undrafted out of the University of Pittsburgh, converting 52 of his 64 field goals and 122 of 124 extra points.