The New York Giants are saying goodbye to a former first-round pick, with the news of longtime NFL offensive lineman Justin Pugh announcing his retirement from the league.
This moment has an extra special element involved, though, as Pugh is returning to where his career started in New York as he is retiring as a member of the Giants.
"Not many players get to go out on their terms, and after 11 years playing in the NFL, I am officially retiring from the league."
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) July 25, 2025
- Justin Pugh pic.twitter.com/IZR0CVR9WJ
The Giants drafted Pugh with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He spent his first five years in the NFL in New York, where he appeared and started in 63 games during that span. He split his time between playing right tackle and left guard with the Giants and became a staple on their offensive line. He joined the Arizona Cardinals in free agency ahead of the 2018 season and spent the next five years with the team.
There, he logged 56 starts and again made himself a pivotal part of their offensive line. He rejoined the Giants for his second stint with the team, which would only last one season. The 2023 season was his final, which allowed him to return to the team that drafted him. And now he does the same by retiring as a member of the Giants after being out of the league in 2024. That season also brought us a hilarious moment where Pugh included "straight off the couch" instead of where he played college during his Sunday Night Football intro.
Justin Pugh is retiring from the NFL as a member of the New York Giants, he announced.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 25, 2025
The former first-round pick played 11 seasons, started 131 games, and delivered one of the most memorable SNF intros: “Justin Pugh, straight off the couch.”pic.twitter.com/T3Bqd1trsd
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