New York Giants fans haven’t exactly had much to be happy about this season, but the NFL tossed them a little nostalgia this week. Out of nowhere, Jason Pierre-Paul is back in the league. You read that correctly. The guy who dragged the G-Men to a Super Bowl in 2011 with one of the best defensive seasons this team has ever seen.
Also the guy who's been out of the league for two years, but who's counting.
Related: Don’t look now but Giants legend might be walking back through the door
If you told fans back in 2011 that JPP would still be churning the pass-rushing legs in 2025, they’d probably give a light giggle of acknowledgement. If you told them he’d do it at 36 after not seeing the field since 2023, they definitely wouldn’t. But here we are. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided they needed veteran pass-rush help for a playoff push, and those desperate times -- they do call for desperate measures.
Tampa Bay added him to the practice squad on Tuesday, per Ian Rapoport, right after unloading a roster spot by placing guard Ben Bredeson on IR. A wild headline, but apparently the Bucs are ready to see if the old guy’s got a little left in the tank.
Tampa Bay turns back the clock with a late-season JPP reunion
The three-time Pro Bowler returns to the place where he won his second ring, posted 33 sacks, and became a huge part of the Bucs’ defensive identity for four seasons.
Their pass rush has been okay, but with Haason Reddick currently dealing with an ankle injury, Tampa clearly wanted someone they already know and trust over bringing in someone unfamiliar with Todd Bowles' defense. No one had this on their 2025 Bingo card.
Just one day after the JPP news dropped, the Indianapolis Colts decided to one-up the Bucs and pull 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement and hand him an NFL playbook again. That alone tells you what kind of fever dream the 2025 season has become.
At this point, nothing is off the table. Daniel Jones was an MVP candidate earlier this season. If someone reported that Eli Manning was suiting up again in Giants blue, would anyone even blink?
For Pierre-Paul, this is an unexpected shot at another playoff run and a chance to potentially parlay this into a 2026 roster spot. After all, he's not too far away from 100 career sacks (94.5). For Giants fans, it’s a reminder of one of the franchise’s last true stars. And for the Bucs, it’s a low-risk move that could end up helping them in January if he gives them anything at all.
Crazy year. Fitting move. Perfect timing for a little JPP nostalgia tour. Can't wait to see what other insanity comes our way before the New Year.