HE MAY NOT PLAY FOR NEW YORK GIANTS AGAIN….
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – His Giants career is likely coming to an end, but Sterling Shepard is still answering questions about its beginning.
“I just had some young guys ask me, Jalin (Hyatt) asked me what was your first game like? What was your first catch?” Shepard said this week. “And I was like, ‘I don’t remember my first catch, but I know I scored in my first NFL game, and it was a pretty nice touchdown.’
Then, the next week I came back against the Saints and had a 100-yard game. And they said, ‘How did you feel after that?’ I was like, ‘Man, I was thinking this is just like college, it’s pretty damn easy.’
But it’s not as easy as you think. You can’t ever get comfortable, man. You got to keep on going.”
That’s what Shepard has done for eight Giants seasons.
Since he arrived as a second-round draft choice in 2016, Shepard has played in 89 games and for four head coaches, caught passes from eight different quarterbacks, and compiled enough receptions, yards, and touchdowns to rank among the most productive wide receivers in franchise history.
He has been a mentor to young teammates and a friend to members of the team’s support staff.
When he joined the team, he was “Young Shep.” Now, he’s 31 and since 2020, he’s been the team’s longest-tenured player.
When the Giants host the Philadelphia Eagles in the season finale, Shepard knows it could be his last appearance in a Giants uniform.
“It’s been a great ride and I’m just looking forward to taking it all in and walking out of that tunnel,” Shepard said.
“That’s my most favorite thing about football, just running out of that tunnel. The feeling you get, it’s indescribable. I’m looking forward to that, for sure.”
Coach Brian Daboll asked Shepard to break down the team after practice Friday.
As a tribute, Shepard is expected to be the last Giants player to run out of tunnel in pregame introductions. Has he come to terms that his Giants career is likely coming to an end?
“For sure,” Shepard said. “It is what it is. I think this point in time comes for everybody at some point throughout their career. I just look at how blessed I’ve been to be in the same spot for eight years. It’s been a blessing.
