The NFL’s latest attempt to spice up the return game could be a game-changer for teams with legitimate special teams weapons—and that makes the New York Giants’ decision to bring back Ihmir Smith-Marsette all the more interesting. Per Jordan Raanan, the Giants are bringing back the electric kick returner/wide receiver back on a one-year deal.
The league is potentially considering moving the touchback to the 35-yard line or pushing the kickoff spot back five yards to force more returns. Last year’s “dynamic kickoff” system already led to a 57% increase in returns, and now, they want even more action. If that happens, teams with a real return threat are going to benefit in a big way.
Luckily for the Giants, they just re-signed a guy who took full advantage of the new kickoff rules last season.
Smith-Marsette could be a sneaky weapon in the new return era
Ihmir Smith-Marsette was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable 2024 Giants season. The 25-year-old return specialist delivered the team’s first kickoff return touchdown in nearly a decade, taking one 100 yards to the house in Week 17 against the Colts. That earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and cemented him as a legitimate return weapon.
In total, Smith-Marsette returned 11 kickoffs for 381 yards and a touchdown last year. He also handled punt return duties, racking up 228 yards on 29 punt returns for an average of 7.9 yards per return. With the Giants bringing him back on a one-year deal, he’ll have the chance to prove himself again—potentially in a league where kick returns matter more than they have in years.
If the NFL makes kickoffs more returnable, Smith-Marsette’s skill set could suddenly become a major advantage for the Giants. Teams will need explosive, shifty returners who can make defenders miss in the open field, and Smith-Marsette fits that mold.
Since Dwayne Harris’ 100-yard return TD in 2015, the Giants have struggled to find any consistency in the return game. They’ve cycled through players, but nobody has locked down the job. Smith-Marsette, however, showed real flashes last season, and if the NFL really does revive the importance of return specialists, he could become a key piece of the Giants’ special teams unit.
Bringing him back on a low-risk deal could turn out to be a sneaky win for the Giants, especially if the new kickoff rules allow him to make an even bigger impact in 2025.