The New York Giants have signed special teamer Nate Ebner, the team announced on Tuesday.
The 10-year veteran joined the Giants as a free agent last year. He participated in a team-high 328 special teams snaps and tied for second with six special teams tackles.
Ebner, who was a team captain in his first season with the Giants in 2020, was a free agent after trying out for one of the 12 spots on the United States National Rugby Team that competed in the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The 32-year-old Ebner participated in the Games in Rio in 2016.
When Ebner was an Olympian five years ago, he played for the New England Patriots. Giants head coach Joe Judge was the team’s special teams coordinator at the time.
“He’s a guy that’s very locked in and focused,” Giants head coach Joe Judge said about Ebner in May. “He was a captain last year and is a great team leader. This team, what he’s helping build, is very important for him, and while I don’t speak for anyone else, I don’t mind echoing that for Nate because I know I can speak very directly and honestly. But look, he’s a very important part of this team, and we look forward to getting him back.”
Ebner has played in 143 NFL games, including 16 in the postseason. A special teams’ standout since entering the NFL in 2012, Ebner played on the Patriots teams that defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX, Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, and the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
