EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants have six players on their current roster who have played in at least one Super Bowl, all for other teams. Five of them have championship rings, four from the New England Patriots and Golden Tate from Seattle.
That leaves recently-signed tight end Levine Toilolo with the team's Super Bowl heartache award. He not only played in two Super Bowls in which his teams lost, but they were among the most excruciating defeats in the game's history: the 2016 Atlanta Falcons blew a 28-3 lead and lost to New England in overtime in Super Bowl LI. And two months ago, Toilolo played in Super Bowl LIV for the San Francisco 49ers, who saw a 10-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate into a 31-20 loss to Kansas City.
Instead of being debilitated by the defeats, Toilolo joins the Giants even more determined to return to the final game and win it.
"Honestly, every time is tough," Toilolo said in a phone conversation. "You get so close to that end goal, which you work all year for. It's something you dream of your entire life. But you take that and you use that as fuel for the next season and everything going forward. I think that's the best way to handle it. You need to have the learning experience. Being on the wrong end of two of those is obviously tough, but you know what it takes to get there. For me, I can only imagine how it'll feel to be on the other side right now. Obviously, even just making it to that point is such an accomplishment. A lot of people don't even get to play in that game. It just excites me more for the future and for what's to come. I'm hoping this next time, hopefully I make it back there a third time, and the third time will be the charm."
Toilolo said those two Super Bowl teams share common traits.
"One of the biggest things for me that I saw between the two teams over the few years was off the field, how close the guys came together and built relationships, and see how much that can translate onto the field," Toilolo said. "When you're playing at this level, I think it can be hard to really get out of the business aspect of it. But once you develop those relationships with not only your teammates but your coaches, and you feel that everyone is playing for something bigger than just themselves. You can definitely feel that on the field. Obviously, there's tons of hard work that goes into it. But really just approaching each day as not only just a work day, but something you enjoy, because you enjoy the people there. You enjoy the people that you're in the building with, that you're in the meeting rooms with. A lot of people outside of football may not see that. But for someone who is in the building, I think that's one thing that people may not realize is probably something that, in my opinion, one of the most important aspects to a team being successful."
The Giants will be the fourth team in as many seasons for the 6-8, 268-pound Toilolo, following his fifth and final year in Atlanta and single seasons with Detroit and San Francisco.
As a pro sophomore in 2014, Toilolo started all 16 games and caught a career-high 31 passes. Two years later, he averaged 20.3 yards on 13 receptions. Toilolo has scored eight career touchdowns.
But last season, he had just two receptions for 10 yards for the NFC champions, who had the conference's starting Pro Bowl tight end in George Kittle. A backup, Toilolo was deployed primarily as a blocker but is confident he can be an all-around contributor for the Giants.
"When you're working on your game, you're always trying to become a better blocker, always trying to become a better receiver," Toilolo said. "It's been up and down for me statistics-wise. I pride myself in being a complete tight end. Someone who can be in there whether it's run-blocking or pass-blocking, or someone who can be in there to go and get the ball when the team needs a play. It's really just doing whatever the team needs. I had more of a blocking role last year. But I think what I bring to the table is definitely a little bit of everything. I'm excited to show that when the opportunity comes."
View photos of tight end Levine Toilolo
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) warms up before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo spiels the football following a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs won 31-20. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) blocks Levine Toilolo (83) at the team's NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) and outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) leaps and celebrates with 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) after Mostert catches a third quarter touchdown pass for a 20-10 49ers lead during an NFL Super Bowl LIV football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-20. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) embraces general manager John Lynch after the team beat the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrate during the NFL NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers beat the Packers 37-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) looks up at the fans before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Rams 34-31. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) goes in motion during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Los Angeles. The 49ers defeated the Rams 20-7. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) goes in motion during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 28-25. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) runs in pregame during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday Dec. 29, 2019 in Seattle. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 26-21. (Greg Trott via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) gets tackled by Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Cory Littleton (58) as he catches a third quarter pass for a gain of 8 yards at the Rams 48 yard line during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Los Angeles. The 49ers defeated the Rams 20-7. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) catches a pass before an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Los Angeles. The 49ers defeated the Rams 20-7. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) pitches to tight end Levine Toilolo (83) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John Locher )
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) catches the ball prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. San Francisco won 17-9. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. The 49ers won 41-17. (Aaron Doster via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo runs onto the field against the Kansas City Chiefs during a NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The 49ers defeated the Chiefs 27-17. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) blocks Levine Toilolo (83) at the team's NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) reacts to a pass to San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) during a 2019 NFL week 1 preseason game, Saturday, August 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys, 17-9. (James D. Smith via AP)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (88) and tackle Lamar Holmes (76) congratulate tight end Levine Toilolo (80) after Toilolo scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo spiels the football following a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs won 31-20. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
CORRECTS TO REMOVE SCORE- Detroit Lions' Levine Toilolo catches a touchdown pass on a fake field goal in front of Green Bay Packers' Josh Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Levine Toilolo (83) warms up before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Atlanta Falcons' Levine Toilolo (80) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown in front of Seattle Seahawks' Earl Thomas in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Eric Saubert, left, and tight end Austin Hooper (81) celebrate with tight end Levine Toilolo (80) after he recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
CORRECTS TO REMOVE SCORE- Detroit Lions' Levine Toilolo celebrates his touchdown catch on a fake field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo (80) recovers a fumble by teammate Devonta Freeman to score a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates with tight end Levine Toilolo (80) after Ryan passed to Toilolo for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
CORRECTS TO REMOVE SCORE- Detroit Lions' Levine Toilolo reacts to his touchdown catch on a fake field goal in front of Green Bay Packers' Josh Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates with tight end Levine Toilolo (80) after passing to Toilolo for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11) grabs a touchdown pass against California's Dan Camporeale (43) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. Stanford won 31-28. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo, top, catches a nine-yard touchdown pass in front of California defensive back Michael Lowe during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford wide receiver Drew Terrell (4) takes in a touchdown catch in front of UCLA cornerback Sheldon Price (22) and Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11) during the first quarter of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11), right, celebrates his touchdown reception with David Yankey (54) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo, front, tumbles into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown in front of Colorado cornerback Yuri Wright in the third quarter of Stanford's 48-0 victory in an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Stanford's Levine Toilolo makes a touchdown reception in front of Arizona's Kylan Butler (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/George Nikitin)
Stanford fullback Ryan Hewitt, left, celebrates with tight ends Zach Ertz (86) and Levine Toilolo after scoring on a 12-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11) grabs a touchdown pass next to Duke cornerback Tony Foster (31) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford wide receiver Drew Terrell, center, celebrares his 11-yard touchdown catch with teammate Levine Toilolo (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Friday, Aug. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo makes as catch against Southern California during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo catches a touchdown pass in front of Notre Dame cornerback Gary Gray (4) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11) receives congratulations from wide receiver Griff Whalen (17) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in Pullman, Wash. Stanford won 44-14. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)
Stanford's Levine Toilolo (11) celebrates with teammate Zach Ertz, right, after scoring a touchdown against Arizona during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Stanford won 37 - 10. (AP Photo/Wily Low)
He brings to the Giants one of the NFL's most colorful names. Toilolo is of Polynesian descent. He got his first name from his grandfather. "My mom's dad, his name was Levine," he said. "I'm named after him.
Three of Toilolo's uncles played in the NFL: Dan Saleaumua played for the Detroit, Kansas City and Seattle from 1987-1998, Edwin Mulitalo played for Baltimore and Detroit from 1999-2008, and Joe Salave'a, who is currently a coach at the University of Oregon, played for Tennessee, San Diego and Washington from 1998-2006.
"I remember being able to go to a few games," Toilolo said. "They came to San Diego, where I grew up. But there's nothing too crazy in my memory bank. Really just going to a practice here or there."
Toilolo prefers to look forward and to getting into the nitty-gritty of learning the terminology verbiage and assignments in his fourth offensive system in four years. His assistant in that task is his wife, Stephanie.
"I pride myself on being someone who you can count on," he said. "Knowing your assignment, being out there and doing their job. The playbook obviously takes time and takes work, and with everything going on, it'll probably be a little bit different of a learning curve. Right now, we'll probably have to do meetings a different way. But as far as picking up offenses, it's definitely not something that I'm too worried about. Being in a lot of different systems, I think that's definitely helped me learn things quick and learn on the go.
"When you watch film, you see a lot of similar concepts. When you go into a new system, it's really just learning the new terms and the verbiage. That's all really just memorization. My wife, she also knows the drill as far as helping my study. We already have our whiteboard and note cards ready to get studying once we get the playbook going."
That's a man who knows what it takes to win.
Giants App
Download the Giants' official app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
