New York Giants legend Tom Coughlin unveils the Judy Coughlin Be the Light Award
Legendary New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who lost his wife, Judy, to progressive supranuclear palsy in 2022, has announced a new award in her memory.
The Judy Coughlin Be the Light Award, recently unveiled by Coughlin and his family, will be granted by the Jay Fund Foundation annually "to an individual, group or team in Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia or the NY/NJ tri-state area who goes above and beyond to support families who have a child with cancer."
"Losing Judy to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy was the hardest journey of my life, but through it all, her light never dimmed. Her smile had a way of brightening even the darkest days, and now, through the Judy Coughlin Be the Light Award, my family and I are honored to carry that light forward," Tom Coughlin said in a statement.
"This award is our way of celebrating those who, like her, bring warmth, hope, and kindness to those who need it most. She inspired us every day, and now we shine a light on others in her name."
The winner will receive special recognition by the Jay Fund Foundation and be featured in a media story, including a separate one here at Giants Wire, and highlighted across multiple social media platforms.
Additionally, the Jay Fund Foundation will make a "special tribute gift towards the winner's cause in their honor."
Applications for nominees are now open at the Jay Fund Foundation website. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 30.
For more ways to give a helping hand to those in need, or for information on how to volunteer with the Jay Fund Foundation, click here.
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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns recap their practice at Giants camp 'Inside Training Camp Live'
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New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Chris Manhertz believes hungry Giants are embracing ‘dawg mentality' and ready to surprise NFL
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It starts from the top, it starts with the leadership we have on the team, and slowly but surely, you carry other guys along, and next thing you know you look up and you have an identity as a team, you have a mindset as a team. Somebody goes up against the New York Giants, they know exactly what they're getting, they have to bring their lunch pail. So that's kind of the mentality that we try to not only preach and say, but also embrace and embody with our style of play. Q: Do you think it's drastically different than it was a year ago? A: I wouldn't say it's drastically different, because we have a great group of the core guys here, but you see a lot of the younger guys really try to take that next step as far as they got their feet wet last year as a rookie, now this year is the year to step up. You know how things go, you know how to carry yourself as a professional, you know how to go about your business and prepare like one, so slowly but surely, it just gets better and better. Q: Is this team ready to surprise people? A: Yeah. I think a lot of that just comes down to the expectations that we have for ourselves as a unit. I'm sure that we'll surprise people, but I think there's a standard here that obviously the outsiders might not know but we try to play up to that standard that we have for ourselves, and more then likely it really exceeds what other expectations people have of us. 8 Giants tight end Chris Manhertz catching a pass during practice at the Giants training facility in East Rutherford, NJ. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Q: Why do you enjoy blocking so much? A: Well, I kind of take pride in just kind of really trying to dominate and to take the will of my opponent, whoever's in front of me. When I first started playing football, that was my way to kind of get on the active roster and try to figure out and create value for myself outside of what other people or other competition in my room looked like. So that's how it started for me, and it's kind of blossomed from there, but it's a dirty job, but it's necessary. I always kind of adopt the 'why not you?' mentality? Somebody has to do it. I think that's mentality kind of carried me through for quite some time. Q: What is it like blocking Abdul Carter? A: There's one word I would probably use to describe him — he's twitchy. Explosive. Has all the right tools, all the right traits. Quite impressed with the type of player that he is. He has a great motor. And I think that if he continues building, he's only going to get better and obviously be a problem for opposing offenses. Glad to have him on this side. Q: Does he remind you of anyone? A: Nah, I don't even like to draw comparisons. I think that he's his own player, he had his own set of tools, but he's a slippery guy, I'll say that. Definitely somebody that you kind of have to have a plan for, but he's hungry, he puts his head down and he works, so you get a lot of respect from doing that and just going about your business the right way. Q: What have you learned about Russell Wilson that maybe you didn't know? A: Me and Russ have history. I was with him in Denver a couple of years ago, so I knew exactly what we were getting. But just the type of leader that he is, he's a Super Bowl champion … that type of guy you want to have in your team. He knows how to prepare the right way, he's great at bringing guys along and getting everybody on the same page, and that's what we need, that's what you need to be an effective, efficient offense in this league. Q: What makes Malik Nabers a dawg? A: You throw the ball up in the air, nine times out of 10 he's making the play. The ball finds him. He's not afraid of making the big play. He's a worker, and he wants the ball. He wants the ball in those big moments. He wants to be the person to have all that pressure on him to be able to deliver and make a big play, and as a young guy, you don't see that a lot. 8 Chris Manhertz of the New York Giants AP Q: What is it like blocking Brian Burns? A: Brian is another one that's I have history with. I was with Brian when he got drafted [in 2019], I was with him in Carolina for a couple of years. He's blossomed into a really, really … he has the ability to wreck a game (laugh) with his style of play. His relentless pursuit to the ball stands out all camp. His ability to take on blocks in the run games and his pass rush, obviously, is something that could be damaging for opposing offenses. But he's another great player that's blossoming and turning into a good leader as well. Q: Kayvon Thibodeaux? A: Somebody that works his tail off. Another player that I love to have in this side as opposed to the opposite. Q: He says he's faster than he was a year ago. A: I would say so. Stronger, too. Q: What do you expect the personality of this defense to be? A: It's a pretty talented group, very talented, one of the better defenses that I've been around. Shane [Bowen, defensive coordinator] has done a good job as far as instilling the right mindset and culture within that defense. It screams out on film. Everybody's relentless in their pursuit to the ball. Q: You expect the run defense to be better? A: I'd like to think so. Assuming everybody's healthy … everybody's grown in a new system. You have to take into account that last year they had a new DC. Q: Jaxson Dart? A: Try to think of a word to describe him — swagger, confident. Obviously there will be things that you learn as a rookie and it's an ever-growing process, but he has all the right tools to be a great quarterback. He has the right leaders around him in the quarterback room. I can't picture a better situation being as a rookie as far as learning from guys like that. Q: Swagger how? A: Just the way that he carries himself, in a good way. He's hungry to learn, he learns quickly, which is what you want from a quarterback. That type of swagger, that confidence, that moxie kind of jumps out. 8 Chris Manhertz of the Giants completes a reception under coverage by Percy Butler of the Washington Commanders for a touchdown last season. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Q: Cam Skattebo? A: Hard runner. Physical. Not afraid of contact. I'm excited to see what he does in the run game for us this yea, but definitely a player that every team needs as far as being a power runner and things like that. Q: What would you tell Giants fans who are still concerned about the offensive line? A: Just remain hopeful. I'm pretty confident in their abilities and what they could be able to do for us in the pass and run game. Q: Fellow tight end Theo Johnson? A: He's another player that I would consider a well-roofed guy. He's somebody you could depend on in the run game. He could be at the point of attack in the run game. He could separate in the pass game and make plays. For a big 260-, 265-pound guy, he's pretty athletic and can move well in space, so those type of things make it exciting, as far as what his potential could be and what type of asset he could be for us as well. Q: What do you think of Evan Neal moving inside to guard? A: Having the willingness to kind of adapt and move and be able to embrace changing positions, you tip your hat to him as well. He's hungry and he wants to learn, and he's slowly getting better at that and learning the nuances of that position. Q: Brian Daboll? A: Brian is a great leader, great head coach. Does a good job of getting all the guys in the same page, is very receptive to what we need as a team, what we need as a unit. A lot of times people always think that head coaches see just straight X and Os guys, but Coach Daboll does a good job kind of leading from upfront, galvanizing us in a sense of getting us on the same page and make sure we're aligned with the culture and the vision that he wants to see this team become. 8 iants tight end Chris Manhertz (85) participates in drills during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Q: If there was a movie title about your NFL career, or about your life, what would it be? A: Probably 'Week to Week' would be the title. Moreso displays the mentality I had initially in my journey in the NFL, adopted a week-to-week mentality, having limited room for error. But having that mindset also forces you not to be complacent, whether you're a rookie or 11-year vet like myself. Q: Where in The Bronx did you grow up? A: Close to Gun Hill Road. Q: Did you go to Arthur Avenue? A: Oh yeah, some Italian food. Q: Dominick's? A: That's a staple! Q: Describe what it's like for a hometown kid being a New York Football Giant. A: I think it's full circle. Especially 1, the proximity of being home. And 2, just being near family, being a part of an organization like the Giants, the history that the organization has, the great players that came through here, the great coaches that came through here. Definitely something I don't take lightly, but it's definitely humbling as well. Q: What resonated with you when Tom Coughlin spoke to the team this week? A: Just probably the value of being a good teammate. That matters a lot, especially as far as 1, building the right culture, [and] 2, having continuity with each other and building a chemistry with each other and having an ability to connect with each and every player. And obviously it looks different for everybody, but I've realized that the sooner you could and the better that you could connect with guys on a level outside of between the lines of the football field, the better that things would be when adversity strikes, or they need a pick-me-up or whatever the case may be. 8 Giants' Daniel Ballinger (82) and Chris Manhertz (85) practice during OTAs. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Q: Do you remember what resonated when Lawrence Taylor and some of the other former Giants spoke? A: All of them had a theme as far as what it means to be a New York Giant. It is a privilege to be a part of a storied organization that has a great culture, and that culture kind of travels through every single generation. There's a right way to do things here and there's a wrong way to do things here. If you're on the other side of that, you'll get weeded out pretty quickly. Q: What is the biggest adversity you had to overcome? A: Giving football a shot with no experience ever. That was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to do — death by fire, if you will (laugh). But it worked out. Q: Your childhood dream was to be an NBA player. Were you a Knicks fan? A: Wasn't a Knicks fan, I was more of a Lakers fan, a Kobe [Bryant] fan growing up. Q: You were a center at Cardinal Spellman [High School], who did you see yourself similar too? A: Kevin Garnett. Just the type of mentality he played with, the versatility he had, the dawg mentality that he had. I will always love players like that. Q: Did you get into the Knicks playoff run in the spring? A: I did. Went to a couple of Knicks games. Nothing like the Garden. It's electric, no place like it, so it was kind of a fun experience. Q: Did you go to Knicks games as a kid? A: No. Went to my first few Knicks games as a pro athlete, believe it or not. 8 Chris Manhertz of the New York Giants reacts after he completes a reception for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Giants and Washington Commanders game in East Rutherford, N.J. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Q: What do you think of Jalen Brunson? A: Great player. Glad to have him here (laugh) rather than somewhere else, but another player that kind of adopts that like dawg mentality. He's undersized, but he has a will, he has heart, and he's talented. Q: Did you go to Giants or Jets games? A: No. I didn't even watch football growing up. It wasn't nothing close to what I planned on being on my radar. It was something that I picked up when I was 21, 22 years old. Q: What drives you? A: At this point, the biggest things that drive me are my family. I have a wife and three kids. And also just honoring those that poured into me, that helped me get to this point. Q: Your first NFL touchdown was on a pass from then-Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey in 2018. A: (Laugh). Fourth-and-1, 'Monday Night Football,' on the 50-yard line. Fake power halfback pass, nobody expected it. I didn't even expect to take it to the house, but I saw green grass. But definitely a moment I'll never forget. Especially against the Saints, a team that had cut me. Q: Describe your TD catch as a Giant last year against Washington. A: Goal-line play, corner route, contested catch. It was another full circle moment, not only it being a touchdown, but being a touchdown in my hometown in front of my family and things like that. Another moment that you kids check off the bucket list, but I'll never forget that. Q: Did you do a dance? A: I'm not a dancing guy (laugh). 8 Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) watches as tight end Chris Manhertz (85) runs the ball during the second half versus the Indianapolis Colts. Robert Sabo for NY Post Q: You spiked it. A: Probably deflated it. Q: Dan Campbell was influential for you when he was Saints assistant? A: For sure. Not too many times you have a tight end coach that actually played the position that they're coaching and played it at a high level. Q: Favorite New York City things? A: Probably not the answer you expect, but having the ability to connect and network with a litany of people from different industries — whether it be in the sports world, whether it be in the business world. It's kind of limitless as far as being able to connect those dots and connect with people. Q: TV in the future for you maybe? A: I've explored it. The longer time goes by, I kind of think about it more, but definitely something I'm open to … You think I should do TV? Q: You can. You're insightful enough. A: I appreciate that. Q: Your boy-girl twins will be 2 next month, and your daughter is 4. How's fatherhood? A: It's busy, especially with this profession. My wife and I definitely have our hands full, but it's also fun just being able to … you look at them and I'm like, 'Man, we created this little human being.' They're constantly trying on us for any and everything, but it's a responsibility I love to be a part of, and I love being a dad. Q: You have your master's degree from Canisius in what? A: Sports administration. Q: Three dinner guests? A: Malcolm X, Denzel Washington, Will Smith. Go behind the scenes with Big Blue Sign up for Inside the Giants by Paul Schwartz, a weekly Sports+ exclusive. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Q: Favorite movie? A: 'A Bronx Tale.' Q: Favorite actor? A: Denzel Washington Q: Favorite singer/rapper/entertainer? A: Jay-Z. 8 Giants tight end Chris Manhertz (85) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Q: Favorite meal? A: Some jerk chicken and rice and peas. Q: What are you most proud of? A: My longevity. I don't take it for granted, the amount of work that it takes to get to this point. You look at the average career is three years, and for somebody that never played the sport and picked it up at age 22, to be able to withstand 11 years in the NFL is something that definitely is kind of a testament to the work that I out in and me taking care of my body, and also having the right coaching staff that believed in me in my development at least initially. Q: You enjoy playing on the New York stage? A: Yeah, yeah. The lights are bright, the attention is high, but that's kind of what comes with being in New York in general. I'm sure there'll be a fair share of criticism if something goes bad, and a fair share of praise when things go good, so it kind of comes with it. Yeah, I like New York. Q: What would your message to Giants fans be about this team? A: Be ready for a team that embodies toughness, a team that embodies a relentless attitude, and a team that also embodies handling adversity well, because inevitably it will happen, don't know when, but when it does, it's really how you respond more than anything as far as what happens. Q: Is this an ascending team? A: I think so. I think so. We have all the talent to really do well. We have the right coaches and we have the right players that want to work, that's not complacent, and that kind of just has what I would call that lunch-pail mentality. You wake up, you go to work, and it's a constant race to improve, it's a constant race to get better and figure out a way to find your edge, because there's 31 other teams that's trying to do the same thing. Q: So after 3-14 last season, do you sense a hunger here? A: Of course. Of course. It puts a pit in your stomach being 3-14 and how the season ends. You want to figure out ways to get better. You want to win. We're not working to hope to win. We work to expect to win.
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Newsweek
Philadelphia Eagles Rival Shows Love to Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jameis Winston might be a member of the New York Giants, but the NFC East quarterback hasn't inherited any bad blood towards the Philadelphia Eagles' star combination of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. In fact, Winston seemingly enjoyed their success last season. "I'm grateful that Saquon is getting his flowers and he is showing the world what type of dynamic back he is, not just in between the trenches, but outside as well, catching the ball," Winston recently said on 'The Pivot.' "Him and Jalen, man, are what the league never wanted to see," he added. '(Saquon) & Jalen are what the league never wanted to see' - Jameis Winston on the @Eagles' stars. Both @saquon & @JalenHurts have been doubted, but @Jaboowins said they have defied the odds. Saquon had a team that didn't believe in him, & even with a Super Bowl MVP Hurts… — Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 31, 2025 Barkley turned out to be one of the most dominant players in all of football during his first season with the Eagles. While he's been a force since entering the NFL as the second-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley had a ceiling he hadn't reached with the New York Giants. With a strong offensive front out in Philly, Barkley nearly snatched the NFL's all-time single season rushing record. And while many believe that Jalen Hurts' success has just been a beneficiary of Barkley's dominance, Winston had flowers for Jalen, too. Jalen Hurts #1 and Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles react after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... Jalen Hurts #1 and Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles react after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More"Jalen is poised," the veteran quarterback added. "He's gonna get, like, the simple stuff. He's gonna get five yards here, eight yards there, nine yards there, three yards there, and then, boom, he'll [throw a bomb]. They said we were never able to play like that from a quarterback position." Last season, Hurts posted his lowest passing yardage total since his sophomore season with the Eagles. Although he threw for just under 3,000 yards and only 18 touchdowns, Hurts posted his most accurate throwing season, notching a career-high 104 passer rating. Hurts took advantage of what was given to him more often than not, and he won football games as a result. The doubt is still alive and well, but Winston surely isn't in that pack. "Jalen is still Jalen, still getting doubted by naysayers, and all he's done is, what I said is the most important thing a quarterback can do? Win," Winston said. "Win! That's all a quarterback has to do." As for Barkley, Winston overheard those critics as well. "Saquon is too shifty, he doesn't run down, he doesn't run in between the tackles, he dodges tackles and stuff," Winston said. "They were like, 'Oh, you're not going to be a player, a finesse back isn't gonna be able to make it like that.' And they are out beating the odds. Both of them." Barkley appeared in 16 games last season. He led the NFL with 345 carries, which resulted in a 2,005-yard season. He scored 13 touchdowns on the ground and caught two more in the air. In total, Barkley led the NFL with 2,283 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns. He was nearly named the league's MVP. As for Hurts, he went from having a quietly productive regular season to breaking out in the playoffs. The Eagles' quarterback completed 71 percent of his passes for 726 yards and five touchdowns. He was named the Super Bowl LIX MVP, as Philadelphia capped off a successful season. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
