Heading into the 2025 season, the Giants are coming off another incredibly disappointing campaign, which saw them go 3-14 and take another step in the wrong direction, putting GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll firmly on the hot seat. But as the team heads into the 2025 season, there’s optimism that New York will be an improved squad.
In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. Let’s round things out with a look at special teams…
Projected depth chart
Starters: Graham Gano (placekicker), Jamie Gillan (punter), Casey Kreiter (long snapper), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (punt returner)
Backups: Jude McAtamney (placekicker), Eric Gray (kick returner)
Key Additions/Departures: Lost Greg Joseph in free agency
Top Performers in 2024: Gano, who made 81.8 percent of his field goals
What Giants special teamers have going for them
From a kicking and punting perspective, the Giants bring back the same trio that they’ve have since 2022 in Gano, Gillan, and Kreiter, so the field goal and punting operations should run smoothly.
Gano has been a stalwart for the Giants since joining the team in 2020, as he has the third-highest field goal percentage in team history among kickers who have played at least 15 games. His 25 made field goals of 50+ yards are also easily the most in franchise history, with no other kicker in double digits. Finding a consistent kicker can be a real chore in today’s NFL, and the Giants can rest easy knowing they have one of the best.
Meanwhile, the Giants seemed to have discover an electric kick returner last season in Smith-Marsette, who signed with the team last September. Smith-Marsette eventually handled both punt and kick return duties, running a kick back 100 yards for a touchdown against the Colts.
Gray has been serviceable in the return game, but Smith-Marsette brings an extra element that the Giants surely welcome.
Key concern for 2025: Health
While Gano has been terrific in a Giants uniform, keeping him on the field has been another story.
Gano played in just eight games games in 2023 and then appeared in only 10 games in 2024, as he dealt with knee and hamstring issues. The Giants don’t want to get into the game of Musical Chairs that many NFL teams are forced to play with signing kickers off the street to fill in for extended periods of time.
Gillan also had hamstring issues last season, missing four games.
Player who must step up in 2025: Gillan
The Giants re-signed Gillan to a new three-year deal this offseason worth up to $10.2 million. While he’s excelled in some areas, like being tied for the fewest touchbacks in the NFL last season (2), Gillan was also dead last among qualifying punters in gross punting average at just 43.7 yards per punt. In fact, in his three seasons with the Giants, Gillan has never finished higher than 26th in the NFL in that statistic.
Flipping the field is a huge part of the game, and Gillan, while adept at keeping his punts out of the end zone, could step up his game in terms of adding some distance.
Biggest camp battle: Smith-Marsette vs. Gray
The nice thing for the Giants is they don’t have many camp battles on the special teams front. While kicker Jude McAtamney is still on the roster and could in theory push Gano, the odds are that McAtamney will be a practice squad member and insurance if Gano were to suffer an injury.
Gray returned 21 kicks last season, and he and Smith-Marsette will likely both be on the field when the Giants line up to return kicks this season, but the running back would need a really good camp to surpass Smith-Marsette as the lead returner.
Overall 2025 outlook
As long as Gano and Gillan stay healthy, the Giants can rest assured knowing they’ll be solid in the kicking and punting game. Gano has been terrific in knocking down long-distance kicks, and has been almost automatic on extra points. Gillan still has room for improvement, but the Giants know what they have in him.
Add in that Smith-Marsette could end up being a game-changer as a returner, and the Giants have a solid group of special teamers heading into the new season.
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