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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 17: Long snapper Casey
Kreiter #59 of the New York Giants during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on
September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants defeated the Cardinals
31-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
By Dan Benton
New York Giants long-snapper Casey Kreiter is somewhat of
a forgotten man. If he doesn’t make a mistake, he’s generally an afterthought
to those in the media and the fans in the stands.
Inside of the building
at 1925 Giants Drive, it’s a different story, however.
While meeting with
reporters earlier this week, special teams
coordinator Thomas McGaughey heaped praise upon Kreiter and had to stop himself
from carrying on for an extended period of time.
“Casey’s
the glue. He is, he’s the glue to our special teams unit. He is the quarterback
of our punt team,” McGaughey told reporters this week. “I couldn’t sit here and
tell you how much he means to our special teams unit. He’s a great leader, he’s
insightful, he thinks like a coach on the field, he’s a real leader in our
room, he gets the guys together every week.
“He
does his own scouting report, writes it on the board, they come in, they watch
it, they talk about it, each unit as a whole, and I couldn’t begin to explain
to you how much he means to us as a special teams group.”
Kreiter
essentially serves as an extra assistant coach in addition to a player on the
field.
That will likely position him well when the time comes to hang up his cleats,
as he’ll ultimately be afforded similar opportunities to another former Giant,
Chase Blackburn.
Unfortunately for
Kreiter, there isn’t much gloating to be done here in 2023. Through no fault of
his own, the Giants’ special teams unit is among the worst in football.
