GIANTS DE KAYVON THIBODEAUX PAYS $50,000 IN DONATIONS FOR NO.5
New York Giants rookie DE and fifth-overall pick in the 2022 draft, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and veteran kicker Graham Gano have negotiated a $50,000 jersey swap that sees the rookie take Gano’s number 5, the club announced on Tuesday.
Thibodeaux, who wore No. 5 at Oregon when he became the first-ever defensive player to earn unanimous All-American status in school history, admitted his interest in the jersey number during his introductory press conference on April 30th: “That is something I’m pursuing. Obviously, he’s a vet. He’s put the work in… so you know there’s some whole lot of negotiating before the thing shakes.”
Asked how 55 sounded to him, Thibodeaux said, “Doesn’t sound as good as 5 but hey, the number don’t make the player. The player make the number.” Seems like the Los Angeles-born Thibodeaux will be ecstatic when he takes the field in East Rutherford with 5 on his back this fall.
Graham Gano had been teasing the jersey swap on social media ever since Thibodeaux was taken fifth overall by the Giants on Thursday, April 29th, insinuating that it would happen “for the right price”.
The $50,000 price paid by Thibodeaux will go to charity in the form of a donation to Puppies Behind Bars, a charity organization that trains incarcerated individuals to raise service dogs for wounded veterans and first responders, as well as explosive-detection canines for law enforcement. Gano comes from a rich military tradition that runs through in his family with his father having served in the U.S Navy for 30 years and having other siblings and relatives in the military.
Puppies Behind Bars introduces puppies to incarcerated individuals at the age of 8 weeks, and the puppies live “behind bars” with their raisers for approximately 24 months before they are taken back into society to help wounded vets and first responders or serve in law enforcement. As per the organization’s mission statement, as the puppies “mature into well-loved, well-behaved dogs, their raisers learn what it means to contribute to society rather than take from it. PBB programs bring the love and healing of dogs to hundreds of individuals every year. The dogs bring hope and pride to their raisers, and independence and security to those they serve.”
Speaking on the jersey swap, 35-year-old Gano jokingly said, “When he said he was willing to give to that, I can be No. 9 and maybe in 10-15 years when he retires and I’m still kicking, I can get No. 5 back.” Gano also wore No. 9 during his 2017 Pro Bowl run with the Carolina Panthers.
“The opportunity to give to something is exciting, and the number is obviously very special to Kayvon,” the Scotland-born kicker went on. “While it is special to me as well, there’s a whole lot of meaning in that No. 5 to him. I just wanted to be a good teammate and also be able to support others throughout the whole process.”
“I feel like it was where the money that Kayvon was donating would be able to make the largest impact and help the most people through him giving that money. The whole idea behind the number five being special to myself and being special to Kayvon was being able to help five people get the five dogs and be able to make an impact in five people’s lives for the better. That was the whole goal behind that. I’m really excited about it.”
Gano is a father of five and doesn’t characterize himself as the stereotypical kicker who tends to be bound by superstition – “It doesn’t matter what number you throw on me” – but admits it still wasn’t easy to part with No. 5.
Speaking on Thibodeaux and giving back, Gano said, “As NFL players, we’ve been given such a great platform to make a difference in the community. There are so many people, kids, and families, that look up to us as professional football players that whenever you’re given an opportunity to make a difference, I feel like you have to jump on it and make the most of it.”
“I also understand this job won’t last forever, so I want to make sure we’re making the most out of it while we can and also teach these younger guys that it is a privilege to be able to play in the NFL. At the same time, whenever you have a chance to give back, make sure you take full advantage of it and make a positive impact in other people’s lives as well.”
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero