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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.