Giants make disappointing move: beloved local icon released in final 53-man roster cuts ahead of 2025 NFL season

DeVito's days were numbered when the Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason. The selection of Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft put the nail in the coffin. Unless DeVito strung together a prolific performance this preseason, his chances of making the roster were incredibly slim.

DeVito did make the most of his playing time. He finished with 198 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and an eye-popping 85% completion percentage. While the Giants' needs weren't a fit for DeVito, he has proven he can stick in the league.

The improbable journey of a local hero

DeVito's story was amazing for Giants fans. He was a local Italian kid who was highly recruited out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. He was a product of one of the best high school football programs in North Jersey and was rated as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports.

After a quality career at Syracuse and Illinois, DeVito wasn't a highly coveted NFL Draft prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite this, he found a back door into the hearts of Giants fans.

As a practice squad member in 2023, DeVito eventually broke through during a tumultuous season for the Giants. During that 2023 season, there was nothing for Giants fans to root for. Once Daniel Jones went down with an injury, it was clear the team wouldn't be making the playoffs.

However, Tommy Cutlets managed to defy the odds with a three-game winning streak that made fans wonder if this was the Italian version of Jeremy Lin. Sadly, that run ended, and DeVito remained a regional icon and fan favorite for how he represented the region.

DeVito outperformed any expectation for an undrafted free agent quarterback. In 12 career games, he has eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 3-5 record as a starter.

While it's improbable that DeVito will have an opportunity to start again in the NFL, he has proven that he's good enough to be a backup. His improvisational skills and poise are difficult to come by in backup quarterbacks. Teams need players who can step immediately into the chaos, and DeVito has absolutely shown he can thrive in the eye of a storm.

Hopefully, a contending team with a reliable starter but questionable backup scoops him up to give him a chance to help a needy team.