EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Zak DeOssie couldn't wait for the opening kickoff to run full speed on a football field.
About 15 minutes before the start of every Giants game the previous 13 years, DeOssie would charge out of the tunnel with a swiftness and urgency normally associated with someone being chased by a herd of buffalo. He often sprinted right into the pregame entertainment then occupying the field.
"It's a lifestyle," DeOssie said. "Respect the game and respect the Giants fans. It's also a huge rush and a signal to the mind and body that you're here and absolutely nothing else matters but effort and winning."
DeOssie brought that optimal effort and intensity through 209 regular-season and postseason games as the team's long snapper and heart and soul of its special teams. His final season in 2019 was cut short by knee and wrist injuries and his career ended today when he released a statement formally announcing his retirement.
"I'm very emotional about it," DeOssie said. "I grew up at this organization and I am so grateful for all the lifelong friendships I have made over the years. Proud of what we achieved as a team over the years, proud of leaving it all out on the field. I feel lucky to have played with so many great teammates."
View photos from the career of two-time Super Bowl champion long snapper and special teams captain Zak Deossie.
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie holds up a newspaper after the Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Super Bowl XLII football game on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, and linebacker Zak DeOssie wave to the fans during a victory celebration rally at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51), kicker Aldrick Rosas (2) and punter Riley Dixon (9) take the field before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) and Georgetown head basketball coach Patrick Ewing, second from right, watch as referee Carl Cheffers prepares to conduct a coin toss before an NFL football game between the Giants and the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants LS Zak DeOssie (51) during a week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
LS Zak DeOssie (51)
New York Giants Captains S Michael Thomas, RB Saquon Barkley, LS Zak DeOssie, LB Alec Ogletree, S Antoine Bethea & QB Eli Manning week 1 game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, TX
Giants arrive for 2019 Training Camp in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie watches against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
LS Zak DeOssie (51) at New York Giants Training Camp 2019 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) stands on the sideline during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) arrives to the preseason week 1 game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants OTA #6 at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) and punter Riley Dixon (9) walk to the field before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New York Giants Media Day Photography Shoot.
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) acknowledges young fans prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie, left, recovers a fumble as Cleveland Browns' Orson Charles (82) closes in during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Chicago Bears' Tarik Cohen, left, returns a punt as New York Giants' Zak DeOssie (51) chases after him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) during a preseason week 4 game against the New England Patriots on Thursday August 29th, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) embraces New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) is forced out of bounds by New York Giants' Zak DeOssie (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Carolina Panthers' Graham Gano (9) talks with New York Giants' Zak DeOssie (51) after an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
New York Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, talks with long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen, right, and teammate long snapper Zak DeOssie celebrate after defeating the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie works out during NFL football training camp, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as Devin Thomas (15) and Zak DeOssie (51) look on after the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Professional athlete Zak Deossie attends the Food Bank for New York City Can-Do Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP)
Professional athlete Zak Deossie attends the Food Bank for New York City Can-Do Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday October 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday October 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie hops a fence as he leaves the field after his team's 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
President Barack Obama poses with New York football Giants, including captains, from left, Zak DeOssie, Justin Tuck, and Eli Manning during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 8, 2012, to honor the Super Bowl XLVI Champions. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) runs upfield on special teams against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb.5, 2012, in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Giants defeated the Patriots 21-17. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Members of the New York Giants are shown during a ceremony for Super Bowl XLVI Championship New York Giants at City Hall in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. From left, in the bottom row, are Zak DeOssie, Justin Tuck, quarterback and MVP Eli Manning. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie, left, congratulates Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, right, as defensive end Justin Tuck gets caught in the middle during a ceremony for the Super Bowl XLVI Championship Giants at City Hall in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants' 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) celebrates after his team's 21-17 win over the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy while celebrating his team's 21-17 win over New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) shakes hands with New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) before the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie runs a drill during practice, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants will face the New England Patriots in the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) looks to make a tackle on special teams during the NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday January 22, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul (90), Zak DeOssie (51) and Rocky Bernard (95) go through drills during practice, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants will face the New England Patriots in the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie during practice, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants will face the New England Patriots in the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie greets fans before an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie talks to a reporter during a media availability, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants will face the New England Patriots in the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes (9) celebrates with Zak DeOssie (51) and Jerrel Jernigan after Tynes scored the game winning field goal during overtime of the NFC Championship NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, in San Francisco. The Giants won 20-17 to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Giants player Zak DeOssie (51) during NFL football training camp in Albany, N.Y., on Monday, Aug. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie watches team mates during warmups before an NFL game against the New England Patriotsin Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie (51) and Brian Jackson (22) smile as they leave the field after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, in Houston. The Giants won 34-10. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy as teammates Devin Thomas, left and Zak DeOssie look on NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots,Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie throws a ball prior to the New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie during the first quarter of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie (51) greets Carolina Panthers' J.J. Jansen (44) before the Giants' preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie (51) practices before the Giants' preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Atlanta Falcons center Bryan Pittman (48) greets New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie (51) before the start of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie in action during NFL football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie in action during NFL football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie (51) practices before the Giants' preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie (51) celebrates after the Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 during the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie walks to practice during NFL football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Friday, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie during football training camp in Albany, N.Y., Friday, July 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
The New York Giants on the sidelines in their NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie holds up a newspaper after the Giants beat the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Super Bowl XLII football game on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants Zak DeOssie reacts after a play against New England Patriots during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Giants won 17-14. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New York Giants linebacker Zak DeOssie takes a breather during Giants NFL training camp in Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) greets fans before an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Browns linebacker Zak DeOssie (38) knocks Holy Cross wide receiver Ryan Maher (18) out of bounds during the first quarter of a college football game in Worcester, Mass., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Rhode Island running back Jimmy Hughes (28) is hit by Brown University linebacker Zak DeOssie (38) during a college football game in South Kingstown, R.I. on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Joe Giblin)
Rookie linebacker Zak DeOssie #51, the New York Giants fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, warms up before the game against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium on October 7, 2007 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Jets 35-24. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Linebacker Zak Deossie of Brown catches a pass during workouts at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Members of the Super Bowl XLVI championship New York Giants, including, from lower left, head coach Tom Coughlin, and players Zak DeOssie, Justin Tuck, and Eli Manning celebrate during a ceremony for the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI champions at City Hall in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Craig Warga, Pool)
New York Giants', from front left, Zak DeOssie, Justin Tuck, and quarterback Eli Manning celebrate during a ceremony for the NFL football Super Bowl XLVI champions at City Hall in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) looks to make a tackle during an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Saturday December 24, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) takes part in a week 12 regular season game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday November 24th, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) takes part in a week 6 regular season game against the New England Patriots on Thursday October 10th, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) participates in Training Camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants' Zak DeOssie smiles as he leaves the Giants NFL football training facility Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. A day earlier, the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51), defensive tackle Linval Joseph (97), and defensive end Dave Tollefson (71) are introduced during the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football against the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN. The Giants won the game 21-17. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie, left, hugs Chris Snee, right, after the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/Pat Semansky)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) celebrates the 21-17 victory against the New England Patriots during the NFL Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
DeMaurice Smith, left, executive director of the NFL Players Association, speaks at the annual state of the union press conference as Eric Winston, from left, Mark Herzlich, Lorenzo Alexander, Zak Deossie, Russell Okung, Michael Thomas, Thomas Morstead and Benjamin Watson listen on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami Beach, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
New York Giants Jacquian Williams (57) and Zak DeOssie (51) down a punt during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Pat Semansky)
New York Giants Zak DeOssie (51) downs the ball on the six -yard line following a punt against the New England Patriots during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI Football game on Sunday, February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis. The Giants won 21-17. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
DeOssie had one of the unsung great careers in Giants history. He was selected on the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft from Brown University as a linebacker, a position at which he never played a down.
"I wish I were a better athlete, then I could have played linebacker," DeOssie said. "The reality is I am not built like these NFL specimens and my body wouldn't have lasted at linebacker. I was very fortunate to figure out long snapping and have an opportunity to be a part of the team."
He snapped for punts as a rookie and then added placekicks the following season. DeOssie was reliable, consistent and durable. He snapped to punters Jeff Feagles, Matt Dodge, Steve Weatherford, Brad Wing and Riley Dixon, and for kickers Lawrence Tynes, John Carney, Josh Brown, Robbie Gould and Aldrick Rosas.
"It would take a novel to express the thoughts of love and respect I have for these guys," DeOssie said.
DeOssie's rookie season marked the debut of Tom Quinn as the Giants' special teams coach, a position he held for 11 years. One of Quinn's assistants for the first four of those seasons was Thomas McGaughey. In 2018, McGaughey became the coordinator and Quinn remained on his staff as a special teams assistant, the titles they still hold.
"Quinn and T-Mac raised me," DeOssie said. "I was the luckiest kid on the planet to have worked with them for so long. They are consummate professionals and dear friends. I thought I knew everything as a kid, and they helped me mature into a young man. Tom Quinn and I spent 13 years together and he is the best person and coach I ever had."
Fittingly, DeOssie's final season coincided with that of perhaps his closest friend on the team, Eli Manning, who announced his retirement in January. The two former players live in the same New Jersey town 30 minutes from MetLife Stadium.
"Eli is one of the most impressive human beings I will ever meet," DeOssie said.
DeOssie leaves with a long list of achievements. He played on the teams that won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. DeOssie was a Pro Bowler in 2008 and 2010. His teammates selected him to be a special teams captain in each of his last nine seasons (2011-19). DeOssie played in 199 regular-season games (plus 10 in the postseason), a total exceeded by only four players in the 95-year history of the franchise.
No, he doesn't feel badly he finished one game shy of 200.
"I have zero regrets about any of it," DeOssie said. "I played my heart out for my teammates and for the love of the best game in the world."
He was credited with 95 special teams tackles, seven in the postseason, including a critical stop of New England's Laurence Maroney on a kickoff return after the Giants took the lead late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII.
DeOssie even distinguished himself daily on the practice field, where he always worked in full uniform and a complete set of pads even when his teammates wore shells and shorts.
"Snapping without full gear is a farce," DeOssie said. "I wanted to replicate the real thing anytime I had to perform. It helped me mentally prepare for gameday."
DeOssie, 36, has been around football his entire life and was familiar with Giants lore long before joining the team. His father, Steve, was a linebacker and long snapper who played for Dallas, the Giants, the Jets and the New England Patriots from 1984-95. Steve joined the Giants in a trade with Dallas in 1989 and was a starter on the team that defeated Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV the following season.
The DeOssies are one of 13 father-son tandems to reach the Super Bowl, but the only one to earn a ring with the same franchise. And they are the only such tandem in history in which each played at least 175 regular-season games.
Both DeOssies snapped the ball for one of the most historic postseason field goals in Giants history: Steve on Matt Bahr's 42-yard game-winner on the final play of the 1990 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco's Candlestick Park, and Zak on Tynes' 31-yarder in overtime in the same game on the same field 21 years and two days later.
"My dad is my best friend and we are proud of what we did in football," DeOssie said. "We are even more grateful for having the privilege to play the game at the highest level for such a long time. The memories are ours, forever."
DeOssie played his final game last Nov. 24 in Chicago, where he uncharacteristically skidded a snap on what became a missed 42-yard field goal attempt by Rosas.
"My performance was sub optimal," DeOssie said. "A long snapper's job is binary."
As he walked off the Soldier Field turf that afternoon, DeOssie knew he had played his final game. He was placed on injured reserve six days later.
"I knew then and there I was done with football," he said. "There was no other team I would want to play for and I had been to the top of the mountain, twice. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would last 13 years. Eli said it best (when he said he was "only a Giant" at his retirement news conference). I never considered continuing with another team. My home is New Jersey and my family and life are here."
DeOssie has transitioned seamlessly into his post-football life, beginning with a lighter body. "I have lost 25 pounds and it feels great to not have to eat seven meals to stay at 250 pounds," he said. DeOssie is spending more time with his wife, Kathleen, and their sons, Lukas (6) and Blake (3). Last week, he began his new career as a private wealth advisor for Goldman Sachs.
"While I was playing, my dad always reminded me to enjoy football but use it to propel yourself into another career for post-football," DeOssie said. "After many internships around Wall Street, I am extremely excited and grateful to join Goldman Sachs. I have the opportunity to join another winning team and make an impact by helping people preserve and grow their hard-earned wealth."
But football – and the Giants – will never be far from his mind or his heart.
"I will never not be connected with the Giants," DeOssie said. "I will miss everything about football. I will miss the locker room the most. An NFL locker room is an incredible place to be. Young men from all different places around the country, all different backgrounds, united in one common goal of winning. Only NFL players can truly understand this sentiment, and I would be wasting your time trying to explain it.
"At the end of the day, what I am most proud of are the memories and friendships I made over the years. I grew up in the best organization in all of professional sports. I was damn lucky. Being voted captain for nine years is a close second. I also played in the NFL longer than my dad did, which is awesome."
So was the understated yet unforgettable Giants career of Zak DeOssie.
Giants App
Download the Giants' official app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
