Statement from two-time Super Bowl champion Zak DeOssie:
I am retiring from football.
As many of you know, I made this decision months ago, but I wanted to make a formal announcement to acknowledge those who have made this experience so awesome - and this milestone so bittersweet.
To everyone at the New York Football Giants - teammates, coaches, trainers, management, ownership, and everyone else who impacted my career and daily experience in big and small ways: I can't thank you enough for the best 13 years of my life. I have worked with, and for, the best of the best, and that has made me better in every way, every single day. I am forever grateful for the opportunity, the lifelong friendships, and ten lifetimes worth of memories - the big wins on big stages, the tiny victories behind the scenes, and the challenges that have taught me so much. Eli said it best: Once a Giant, Always a Giant, Only a Giant. What an honor.
To my friends, mentors, and colleagues across the league: I wish you all the best. To those carrying the Giants torch forward, I can't wait to cheer you on from the sidelines as your biggest fan. Bring us another championship!
To the best fans in the league: thank you for your fierce loyalty and passionate support, and for always demanding the best. This is New York - you deserve the best. I'm honored to join Giants Nation in a new capacity.
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)
To my NFLPA colleagues: thank you for your noble work advocating for players' rights, and for the privilege of serving with you for the last decade.
To Brown University and Phillips Academy Andover: thank you for how you celebrated me not only as a football player, but also as a student and a person.
To Katie, my amazing wife, and our two beautiful boys: thank you, for everything. Win, lose, or draw, the biggest privilege has always been, and always will be, coming home to you.
To Dad: thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to make this journey, and especially this moment, mean so much. You have been the best mentor, advocate, and friend through it all. Three rings for the DeOssies (so far) - but we have so much more than that to celebrate together, in the past and going forward.
To Mom and my sisters: thank you for all of your sacrifices to allow for this knuckle-head to chase his dream for so long. We have so many great memories, but only better ones to look forward to.
To my family and friends: thank you for your endless support, screaming your hearts out at games, for your texts and calls in wins and losses, and for teaching your friends what a long snapper is. You're the real MVPs.
Head down, hands steady, produce results. I learned from my time with the Giants that hard work pays off. As I walk away from the game as a player, I thankfully get to keep that mentality - and I'm excited to bring it to my new role in Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs. I have had the tremendous opportunity to work and learn at GS in my off-seasons, and am thrilled to be re-joining my team to deliver championship-level energy, effort, consistency, and results.
Thank you all. Go Giants!
- #51
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