Markus Kuhn returns to Giants organization ahead of trip to Germany

 

Jul 22, 2024 at 10:08 AM

East Rutherford, N.J. - Thirty years ago, the Giants took part in the first ever NFL game in Germany when they defeated the San Diego Chargers, 28-20, in a 1994 preseason game in Berlin.

 

Twenty years later, Giants defensive tackle Markus Kuhn became the first ever German-born player to score a touchdown in an NFL game when he scooped up a fumble and returned it 26 yards during a 36-7 win over the Tennessee Titans during the 2014 season.

 

The Giants now have official marketing rights in Germany, and with their upcoming trip across the pond in Week 10 for a matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Allianz Arena in Munich, the organization has brought back a familiar face to help lead the charge on the German content front. Kuhn returns to the Giants as an official German brand ambassador and content strategist for this season.

 

Kuhn spent four seasons with the Giants from 2012-15. He played in 39 games with 11 starts and finished his NFL career with 48 total tackles (24 solo), 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, four passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and, of course, the aforementioned defensive touchdown.

 

In his new role, the former defensive tackle will provide overall guidance on the landscape in Germany and give recommendations on content, events, and in-market activations. Kuhn will also serve as the face of the team's German social and digital accounts to help create content that will bridge the culture of New York and Germany, while also educating on the sport of American football.

 

Kuhn recently joined the Giants Huddle podcast to discuss his new role with the team, the NFL's popularity in Germany and much more.

 

"The Giants were the last team before the international game series started that played in Germany as part of the World Games when they played in Germany in the 90s," Kuhn said. "So the Giants played in Germany as the last team. Now, coming back this year, there's a big fan base in Germany. There's fan clubs that meet and watch together. So, we have a good amount of Giants fans, but also we just have a ton of American football fans in Germany that still are undecided for the team. We're trying to see if we can turn them into Giants fans."

 

Kuhn was born and raised in Mannheim and began playing football at the age of 14 after being introduced to the sport while on vacation with his family in Florida. He eventually joined the Weinheim Longhorns of the German Football League (GFL), where his accolades included Rookie of the Year along with being named a four-time GFL All-Star.

 

He then came to the United States in 2007 with the desire to play collegiate football. After traveling around the country with his father handing out his highlight reel on DVD to any football program that would entertain him, Kuhn eventually ended up with a scholarship to North Carolina State. A few years later, Kuhn was selected by the Giants in the seventh-round (No. 239 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.

 

"Obviously, I know American football has been growing in Germany," said Kuhn. "It's one of the biggest growth markets outside of the U.S. for American football. We have 20 million football fans, people that are interested in American football in Germany. It's the second-most watched TV sport after soccer. We have about a million people watching the NFL every weekend, every Sunday, we have millions of people watching the Super Bowl. The Giants are going back this year, so there's a lot of buzz happening."

 

Kuhn added, "Being back for the second time and working here now for the third time is obviously very exciting. It means a lot to me."

 

To follow the Giants German-language social media accounts visit our official Instagram (@NYGiants_Deutschland), Twitter (@Giants_DEU) and Facebook accounts along with our dedicated digital hub to keep up with the latest news on all things Big Blue.

 

Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Anthony Pleasant Meet & Greet, Catfish Fundraiser Saturday In Century

 

July 19, 2024

Two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant will return to the park that bears his name for a youth football fundraiser Saturday.

 

Blackcats Black & Gold Night will be held 4-8 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Anthony Pleasant Park off East Highway 4 in Century.

 

Catfish plates will be available for $14 each with preorder pick up at 6 p.m. Limited plates are available. Call or text Kaley at (850) 417-0412 to order. All proceeds will got to Century Blackcats Football & Cheer.

 

Admission is free.

 

A meet and greet with by held with Anthony Pleasant, and there will be flag football games for all ages.

Pictured: Sporting a “Blackcats Pride” hat, two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant speaks to the Northview Chiefs football team in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos.

Rex Burkhead headlines 2024 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame class

NATE HEAD Lincoln Journal Star

Jul 11, 2024

One of the best running backs in school history is among the eight-player 2024 class to be inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

Rex Burkhead, who rushed for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns from 2009-12, headlines the class, which also includes Keven Lightner, Tyrone Byrd, Terrell Farley, Chris Kelsay, Jared Crick, Monte Johnson and Mike Miller.

Johnson was selected from the "Legend" category, and Miller is the year's state college inductee (Nebraska-Kearney).

The class will be inducted at a banquet on Sept. 13 in Lincoln and will be recognized during Nebraska's home game against Northern Iowa on Sept. 14.

Burkhead's big year came in 2011 when he rushed for 1,357 yards and scored 15 touchdowns to garner first-team all-conference honors. The 34-year-old enjoyed a 10-year NFL career, including two Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots. 

Crick was teammates with Burkhead for three seasons, anchoring the Huskers' defensive line as a two-team first-team All-Big 12 pick and two-time second-team All-American. His breakout season came as a sophomore in 2009 when he posted 73 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks. Crick played five seasons in the NFL.

Lightner helped power one of the top rushing attacks in the country in 1987 as a first-team All-Big Eight selection. Lightner, who played from 1985-87, went on to be an assistant football coach at various programs, including Omaha.

Byrd is still fifth in career interceptions at Nebraska (11). The Arizona native started from 1989-92, finishing with 209 tackles.

Farley played two seasons, including 1995, when he helped the Huskers go 12-0 and win the national championship. The linebacker had 62 tackles and five sacks that season — two of which came in the Fiesta Bowl win over Florida.

Kelsay is an Auburn native who logged 135 tackles over four seasons (1999-2002). He was a two-time All-Big 12 selection, including in 2001 when he had 17 tackles for loss and five sacks as Nebraska marched to the national championship but lost to Miami.

Johnson played on the defensive line for Bob Devaney's final three seasons as head coach and was part of back-to-back national championship teams in 1970 and 1971.

Miller finished his career at Nebraska-Kearney as the program's all-time leading rusher (4,818 yards).

Photo: Former Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead (22) gets a block from Spencer Long during the 2011 Capital One Bowl.