Zak DeOssie: Only out of the NFL for one year, the Giants' long snapper is missed

This week’s flashback doesn’t take you back into the annals of Big Blue history (sorry, folks) but rather, it pays homage to a recent warrior and true-blue Giant who handled the under-the-radar, dirty jobs that don’t garner many accolades.

- JOHN FENNELLY

Sometimes we take players for granted and when they quietly step away from the game, we quickly forget them. But here is one player we will take the time to remember before we allow him to be forgotten.

This year is the first time in 14 years that Zak DeOssie isn’t wearing a New York Giants uniform. The 36-year-old DeOssie retired after the 2019 season after a 13-year career of being a professional, loyal member of one the most-recognized franchises in all of sports.

Zak, the son of former Giants and Patriots linebacker/long snapper Steve DeOssie, was not on the Giants’ current roster after he ended his 2019 season — and his career — on injured reserve last November with a knee injury.

DeOssie was a fifth-round selection by the Giants in the 2007 NFL Draft out of the Ivy League (Brown) and was their long snapper for both Super Bowl victories over the New England Patriots. He has been one of the Giants’ special teams captains since the 2012 season.

DeOssie played in 199 games for the Giants, ranking him fifth on the franchise’s all-time list behind Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Howard Cross and George Martin. He was named to two Pro Bowls (2008, 2010).