New York City has never been short on star power. It’s the home of Broadway, the Yankees, and the only place where Jalen Brunson can become the face of an entire borough. If you believe Bleacher Report’s new ranking of America’s most star-studded sports cities, the Big Apple is right where it belongs—near the top.
In a recent piece by Matt Velazquez, New York was named the second-most star-studded sports city in the country, trailing only Los Angeles. Eleven athletes from five different teams made the cut—big names like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Breanna Stewart, and Jalen Brunson leading the way. But here’s the twist: not one of them plays for the New York Giants.
That’s not just disappointing—it’s a little painful. Especially when Velazquez makes it crystal clear:
“If the Jets and Giants weren’t both simultaneously operating at a talent deficit, New York could be atop these rankings. Alas, it’s going to take at least a year for someone on either (or both) of those teams to make the leap to superstardom.”
Giants rightfully snubbed in ranking of New York’s top sports stars
There was a time when the G-Men were star-studded by default. Michael Strahan. Tiki Barber. Odell Beckham Jr. Saquon Barkley. Justin Tuck. Eli Manning. If you wore blue and played under the Meadowlands lights, odds were you had name recognition that stretched from Staten Island to Los Angeles.
Now, the Giants don’t even make the “notable exclusions” list. And that's a tough pill to swallow.
Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you go 3-14 and churn through quarterbacks like a rotary phone. But here’s the thing—there’s real potential on this roster. Legitimate star power. Rookie QB Jaxson Dart has the swagger and spotlight instincts to eventually become the guy. Fellow first-rounder Abdul Carter could grow into one of the league’s top pass rushers. And Malik Nabers—if the offense ever finds a groove—could be posting eye-popping numbers every Sunday.
New York is still the city of stars—and maybe one day, the city that never sleeps on Giants players. But it’s been a minute since that level of star power called East Rutherford home.
This year, the Giants don’t need a full red carpet moment. They just need someone to break through and earn a spot on next year’s list. And if it’s Dart, Nabers, or Carter, even better. Because it’s about time the G-Men stopped watching the lights and started being part of them again.