Is It Time for the Giants to Release Their 2017 Pro Bowl Kicker?

The New York Giants have reached a breaking point with their kicking situation. It all centers around veteran kicker Graham Gano. After 16 seasons in the NFL, Gano is finally showing the wear and tear of having a long NFL career. Every time he steps onto the field, there’s a growing uncertainty about whether he can still deliver the points this team desperately needs. This needs to be addressed by the Giants as soon as possible. 

Gano is once again dealing with a groin injury. The same lingering issue that has followed him throughout his time in New York. It has reached a point where the Giants can no longer depend on him week to week. As this weekend’s matchup against the Chicago Bears approaches, the main question isn’t about the offense or the defense. It’s about whether the Giants even have a kicker they can trust.

The 2017 Pro Bowl kicker entered the league in 2009 after going undrafted and spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, and the Carolina Panthers before joining the Giants. He has seen the roster change around him over the years, but now the reality is shifting: this time, he might be the one on his way out. In the last two seasons he has played, Gano has missed more kicks and more games than ever before in his career. His inconsistency has repeatedly left the Giants without crucial extra points, game-tying opportunities, and late-game security. New York has cycled through multiple replacement kickers due to his absences, and several have not lasted long. 

That’s why it’s time for the Giants to look toward their next option, whether that’s Younghoe Koo, who was brought in earlier this season as a potential backup, or another long-term solution. If Gano continues to sit while the offense struggles to finish drives with points, the Giants will stay stuck in the same cycle. The 2017 Pro Bowl kicker has had a solid career, but right now he’s hurting the Giants more than he’s helping them. This position must be part of the conversation, and the end of the season may be the moment the team finally closes the book on Gano’s time in blue.