Logan Ryan is Giants’ 2020 Art Rooney Award nominee

The Giants signed Logan Ryan at the end of August to help bolster a secondary that would be without 2019 first round pick DeAndre Baker and 2018 third-ound supplemental selection Sam Beal. Ryan’s name was teased all off season as a possible addition to the Giants, but the Jersey product didn’t return home until just over a week before the season.

The impact on the field has been incredible; Ryan is the leader of the secondary and is an integral part of what Patrick Graham strives to do with his unit. His effectiveness shouldn’t be understated, and his influence isn’t relegated to just being a good player. Ryan has always attempted to play fairly and never aim to harm opposing players outside of the confines of the game.

Ryan is the Giants’ nominee for the 2020 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award that is bestowed to one NFL player each year who “demonstrates the qualities of outstanding sportsmanship on the playing field, including fair play, respect for opponents and integrity in competition.”

Dalvin Tomlinson was the team’s 2019 nominee and he concurs that Ryan embodies what it means to be a Giant on, and off, the field.

”Once he arrived here, he immediately gained the respect of his teammates and each week you can see why he’s respected amongst the best athletes in the world. His relentless drive to play the game at a high level doesn’t come at the cost of playing with integrity. His on the field sportsmanship is unmatched and he has an unwavering amount of respect for the game and our opponents, which has become something that has stood out to me,” Tomlinson said.

Ryan acknowledges that accidents happen, but playing the correct way is the only way to play the game that he loves.

“It’s not in the game, it’s not how the game should be. You can be tough, you can be physical, you can be violent, but you don’t have to be cheap. That is not tough, that is not physical, it’s cowardly. I never try to hit a quarterback below his knees. I never try to hit a receiver helmet to helmet. Accidents happen, I’m playing hard and fast, but I never wish to hurt anybody. I respect the opponent so much I want him out there so that I can compete against him,” Ryan said.

The award has been around since 2014 and its first six winners were Larry Fitzgerald, Charles Woodson, Frank Gore, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, and Adrian Peterson. We’ve yet to have a Giant win the award, but Ryan is a legitimate candidate. After being told he was nominated, Ryan said “It’s a great list. It’s a great honor. I think it’s my greatest honor. I’ve been trying to do a lot off the field and just being a good person. Those are all really good players and really good people. I learned you can be both and they work together. You can be a good person off the field and be a really good player as well.”