Nubin returns from injury with high expectations
The New York Giants have retooled much of their defense this offseason, adding veteran playmakers and young stars in an attempt to fix a unit that struggled throughout 2024. But amid all the big-name additions, one player already on the roster is generating some of the most buzz as training camp heats up: second-year safety Tyler Nubin.
After a strong albeit shortened rookie campaign, Nubin is being widely viewed as a breakout candidate in 2025. The former University of Minnesota standout logged 98 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in just 13 games before a foot injury ended his season prematurely. Now healthy and back in his family’s No. 27 jersey, Nubin is embracing the opportunity to lead and elevate his game.
“This year, I’m really just focused on getting better every single day and becoming a leader and leading by example,” Nubin said Thursday after practice. “That’s really what I want to do.”
The Giants’ biggest offseason move in the secondary was the signing of Jevón Holland, formerly of the Miami Dolphins. The 24-year-old brings Pro Bowl-level talent and years of experience to a Giants defense looking for identity and leadership a perfect pairing for Nubin.
“We’ve got a lot of similar skill sets,” Nubin said. “He’s a very versatile player… being able to play in the run game, play deep, play in the post — things I like to do, too. I studied him a lot in college, so getting to play alongside him now is real cool.”
The duo brings size, range, and instinct to the back end of the Giants’ defense. Holland’s veteran presence is already paying off.
“I learn from ‘Von every day, man. Something new every day. He’s seen so much. I just try to soak in as much as I can.”
Nubin’s jersey change also carries emotional weight. He switched back to No. 27, a number that honors his late uncle, Steve King, who played football at the University of Michigan and passed away in 2014.
“It was a family number, but after he passed, it became a legacy. He meant everything to me,” Nubin said. “He came to all my big games. Some of my first memories with him are throwing a football by the beach in Chicago.”
Wearing that number now, Nubin says, is about more than football — it’s about carrying on something bigger than himself.
Nubin isn’t the only young player in the Giants’ secondary taking a step forward. His close relationship with cornerback Dru Phillips, a fellow second-year defender, is helping build continuity.
“Me and Dru have a really tight connection,” Nubin said. “Playing so much last year together — we’re only going to keep growing.”
Meanwhile, Paulson Adebo, signed from New Orleans, adds more stability and technical discipline to a group that’s still relatively young. “He’s real smart, real technical,” Nubin said of Adebo. “He’s a pro — he does it the right way. Everybody’s learning from him.”
The new-look defense will also benefit from an improved pass rush, anchored by Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and rookie standout Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick.
“It makes our job easier in the secondary,” Nubin said. “Quarterbacks know they’ve got to get the ball out quicker. That just gives us more confidence to go make plays.”
Nubin’s rookie year was cut short by injury, requiring offseason surgery.
“Any time you’re not playing the game you love, it sucks,” he said. “But I took it as an opportunity to get my body right, fix the things that were bugging me.”
With a full offseason under his belt, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety looks and feels ready for a full breakout.
“I’ve got goals for myself this year,” Nubin said with a smile. “But I’ll let my play do the talking.”
As the Giants aim to turn around a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league last year, Nubin may already be one of the most important pieces in the puzzle.
Versatile, smart, tough, and now battle-tested, he’s not only learning from veterans he’s starting to lead them.
“He’s one of our leaders back there,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said earlier this offseason. “He’s got the mindset and the talent. He’s just getting started.”
If his camp performance so far and confidence are any indication, Tyler Nubin is on the verge of becoming a name to know across the NFL and a star the Giants can build around for years to come.