New York Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor has not been shy in recent weeks about using social media to ask fans to vote for both himself and left tackle Andrew Thomas for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.
So, at the start of a Zoom call with New York media on Tuesday, I asked Eluemunor what reaching the Pro Bowl for the first time in his nine-year NFL career would mean to him.
Eluemunor issued a 440-word, two-minute and 12-second answer.
A standard answer is just a couple of sentences and a few seconds.
Below, the entirety of Eluemunor’s answer, with a few “you knows” edited out for brevity (just in case you are going to count the words yourself).
“It would be cool, if you look at my career and the trajectory I’ve had. I got drafted to Baltimore, I got traded to New England after my third year, well, during my third year there. But before that, I got cut because I’m in P-Squad, then got elevated, started a game, and then was inactive for the rest of the season.
“Then in New England, I was inactive that entire 2019 season, or the majority of it. And then the 2020 season was a COVID season. And I played and then didn’t play, went on IR, came back, was a starter, but got benched.
“And then started the last couple of games at left tackle. And then the year after that, I signed in Miami in June, right before training camp. And then got cut midway through training camp because I just wasn’t a fit there with the [regime] they had there.
“And then I go to Jacksonville for two days. Fly to Jacksonville, I’m with the O-line coach at like 11, 12 a.m. in the morning. Wake up, fly to Dallas for the preseason game, get back to Jacksonville, get cut.
“Then, literally within minutes of getting cut, fly to Las Vegas, sign with their active roster with Jon Gruden. And I’m there for three seasons. That first season I was there in ‘21, started a couple of games, but then got benched. Because they just had guys that they wanted to play over me, which is how the NFL works.
“And then just re-signed there for a minimum contract. And ended up starting at right tackle, having to rotate the first couple of games because they wanted to see if I was the right tackle.
“And then the next year, re-signing there again and starting to rotate with guys. And then finally getting to start the rest of the season and then signing here. And finally being able to be the guy, but then last year I moved to left tackle because of injuries.
“And then now we’re in the 2025 season where I’m able to stay in one position for the entire season. So there’s been a lot of ups and downs throughout my entire career.
“But it just goes to show that if you just put your head down and you work, and you believe in yourself throughout everything you’re going through, then you can accomplish whatever you want to accomplish in this profession. And the only person who can stop you is you.”
Will Eluemunor be back with the Giants?
Eluemunor picked a great time to have his best season, as he can be a free agent after the final four games. He is focused on finishing this season well, not on who will be paying him next season.
“I’ve been on one-year contracts ever since my second year in the league. So, every year for me has kind of been a proven deal, or a situation where I don’t have anything guaranteed for the next season. This was my first long-term contract I signed, or multiple-year contract I signed since my rookie year,” Eluemunor said. “So, like I said, I’ve been on one-year contracts ever since 2018. So, for me it’s kind of same old, same old, but it’s cool because I’m playing my best ball right now. I’m confident. I feel great out there. I’m having a lot of fun. I think that’s why my play has been the way it is.
“I don’t really worry about the future. I just worry about the present and what I’m going through. I got four more games to just show this team that I can be part of the future, and just show the rest of the league that I believe I’m the best right tackle in the league.”
