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New York Giants kicker Graham Gano has not been in the fans this season. Unfortunately, the veteran has grown accustomed to hate and vitriol.
And he detailed the horrible words he had to read and hear.
“I hear everybody else’s frustration — media, fans. Shoot, ever since sports betting started, I get people asking me to kill myself every week because I hit a kick that loses them money, I’ll miss a kick and it loses them money. The other day somebody told me I was going to get cancer and die,” Gano said Thursday, via the New York Post .
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New York Giants placekicker Graham Gano on the field during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training on July 23, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Gano has been one of the best place kickers in the NFL since entering the league in 2009, but the 38-year-old has struggled to stay healthy with the Giants over the past three seasons. He could miss his 21st game in that span if he is unavailable for New York this Sunday against the Chicago Bears on the road.
But that doesn’t warrant those kinds of messages from NFL fans.
Gano opens up about this coming on a terrible day for the football world after Dallas Cowboys second-year linebacker Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide at age 24.
COWBOYS’ MARSHAWN KNEELAND DEAD OF SUICIDE AFTER POLICE CHASE IN TEXAS, OFFICIALS SAY
Gano said the tragic news was discussed by the team earlier Thursday.
New York Giants quarterback Graham Gano (9) kicks a field goal as Jamie Gillan (12) holds in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys on September 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
“We talked about it this morning, guys on the team,” said Gano, who is a player representative for the NFL Players Association. “I hated hearing the news. The biggest thing — it’s not just football, it’s everybody. If you have someone on your mind to reach out, do it. You never know. It could be the difference.”
Dealing with a neck injury, Gano hopes he can play Sunday and beyond because all he wants to do is help the Giants win football games.
“I just want to make the fans happy, help the team win games and it’s hard not to be able to do that,” he said. “People are passionate and a lot of that I understand. I’ll do my best. I’m proud to be a Giant. I wish there was something I could do to not get hurt.
“I want people to know that I care, I want to play, I want to be the best I can, I want to make every kick. I wouldn’t play this long if I didn’t care.”
New York Giants placekicker Graham Gano on the field during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 23, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Now in his 16th NFL season, Gano missed his first field goal of the year last week — a 45-yard attempt in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He has made all nine of his extra point attempts.
