On Sunday, the New York Giants dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, ending their season on a high note.
Entering the game, the longest-tenured Giant, Sterling Shepard, knew his time with the team was likely coming to an end.
Surely his three catches for 18 yards and one carry for six yards aren’t going to jump off the stat book. However, they were enough to help Shepard reach a milestone.
With Shepard’s final catch of the game, he passed former Giant Jeremy Shockey and moved into fifth place in franchise history for receptions.
“Yeah, it meant a lot. I grew up watching that guy and it was a special deal being able to get it. It wasn’t easy but my career hasn’t been easy. So, I didn’t expect it to be any other way, but it was a great feeling.” Shepard told reporters.
Like Shepard, Shockey was drafted by the Giants and spent the majority of his career with Big Blue.
If this is it, Shepard will finish just 18 receptions shy of his former teammate Odell Beckham Jr.
Shepard got to make his own entrance on Sunday:
Sterling Shepard gets what’s likely his final introduction as a Giant. pic.twitter.com/GK8teA4d5H
— Patricia Traina (@Patricia_Traina) January 7, 2024
The Giants were clearly trying to target Shepard in the red zone in the game’s final minutes to get him a touchdown. That didn’t happen but he still received a game ball following the victory and was selected to break down the team.
Shepard is a fan favorite. If this concludes his time with the team, his final game will be what moved him into fifth place on the Giants’ all-time receptions list and he did it in a win.
As the old adage goes, Once a Giant, Always a Giant.
