After years of stagnation and mediocrity, energy has finally returned to the New York Giants’ sideline. For the first time in what feels like forever, there is excitement building up for Sundays, and it finally seems as though the players are buying in.
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Every team deserves that jolt of energy within the locker room, and for Brian Daboll’s group, it’s coming from an unexpected source in veteran defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches. The 32-year-old had a career year in 2024, recording a career-high 52 tackles and six QB hits in 15 starts.
The former Chiefs’ sixth-round pick was mic’d up for Big Blue’s preseason clash with the Jets, and was seen having a blast on the sideline. He was caught hyping up second-year tight end Theo Johnson following his 30-yard screen pass from Jaxson Dart, and was also heard talking up players like Bobby Okereke, Dalen Cambre, Juice Wells, and Jordan Bly.
Rakeem Nunez-Roches has become the ultimate hype man
The Southern Miss product was signed to a three-year deal in free agency before the 2023 season and has quickly made an impact. He is great against the run, and it’s clear his locker room personality is infectious enough to rub off on his younger teammates. And his energy felt authentic—the kind of contagious positivity that keeps the sideline loose but locked in.
In the same video, star pass-rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter were seen holding hands on the sidelines, so if that doesn’t exemplify the strong camaraderie within the defensive line room, I don’t know what will.
And the G-Men boast a defensive line that is absolutely loaded, but the unit might end up a bit crowded for someone like the Brazilian defensive lineman. But at this stage in his career, his value comes in depth and leadership, and he seems unfazed by the exciting new additions. All he wants to do is keep bettering the vibes with each passing day, and wreak havoc in the backfield, of course.
Carter, Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, Chauncey Golston, Darius Alexander, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Nunez-Roches make up one of the most fearsome defensive fronts in the NFL and should excite fans for Week 1. Even Justin Fields was praising the elite unit.
At this stage of the rebuild, the G-Men don’t just need stars — they need glue guys, leaders, and hype men. And right now, Nacho checks every box. With leaders like Nunez-Roches setting the tone for an elite defense and an offense that’s poised to improve considerably, MetLife Stadium is home to a team that can surprise people this season... and no one's referring to the Jets.