NFL Media can confirm the Jets were the team that contacted Umenyiora, according to a source who has spoken to the former Giant.
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One of the more prolific pass rushers of the past decade, Osi Umenyiora has decided to hang up the cleats, and in doing so will sign a 1 day contract with the New York Giants this coming Wednesday to retire officially as a member of the G-Men.
Umenyiora had 75 of his 85 sacks with the Giants, fourth on the franchise’s list, trailing only Strahan (141½) and Lawrence Taylor (132½) and Leonard Marshall (79½).
Umenyiora, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants, spent 12 seasons in the NFL, the first 10 with New York and last two in Atlanta. The team will broadcast the press conference in real time on Wednesday afternoon.
Umenyiora added, “For past three weeks, I’ve been in negotiations with Jerry Reese”. Umenyiora’s unlikely football journey, which started at Auburn High School and blossomed at Troy University, ended with a ceremonial one-day contract and a retirement gala.
New York is home for me. “I would literally be on the plane and I love my Atlanta teammates don’t get me wrong, we would be watching games, we would watch the Giants and I would be openly cheering for the Giants and I’m playing for the Atlanta Falcons”.
“When it was first announced that this day was gonna come, I think it was maybe about three weeks ago”.
Umenyiora always represented the Giants well on and off the field, building a bond that held strong throughout his time in Atlanta. “He wanted to be the best, he wanted to outplay me, he wanted to outplay everybody in the league”.
The New York Giants made a very nice video tribute for Osi Umenyiora, which showed him throughout his years with the Giants making big plays and becoming a leader. “There’s no doubt about that”, Umenyiora said.
Won’t be surprised if we see him commentating on the sideline.
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His mentor, Michael Strahan, was “what I aspired to be as a player and as a person”. So I think the team needs him, he needs this team. They just said, ‘We’re taking you to London, and you’re going to be in London.’ I’m going to have to go into an office every day. “You know, obviously, Jerry wasn’t going for that”.
