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Graham Gano has felt the wrath of New York Giants fans amid his ongoing struggle with injuries. The Giants kicker opened up about his latest injury and his mental-health struggles amid backlash from fans ahead of their upcoming road game against the Chicago Bears. Gano has twice exited a Giants regular-season game early due to injury in as many seasons, most recently in Week 3 when they lost 22-9 to the Kansas City Chiefs. He also left their 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 2 in 2024. Gano, who is in his sixth season as the Giants kicker, is 9 for 10 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points this year. But Giants kickers other than Gano are 9 for 13 on extra points this year — including Jude McAtamney’s two missed PATs in their 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Graham Gano Is Battling A Neck Injury Gano was battling a groin injury against the Chiefs, and he still went 1 for 1 on field goals in that game despite the fact he could not attempt longer than 25 yards. But he is currently dealing with a neck injury, which he sustained last week in what seemed like innocuous circumstances. “I had some discomfort in my neck, and I just thought it was normal, like you stepped on it wrong,” Gano said. “After I came in Monday and lifted, [I] felt a pretty intense pain [and] had some nerve stuff going on then went to the doctor and it was a herniated disk in my neck.” Even amid the injury, Gano intends to kick in practice Friday and is hoping to play Sunday in Chicago. But this rash of injuries is killing Gano. “It’s unbelievably frustrating. Obviously, all I want to do is play football,” Gano said. “I can’t control the injuries that have happened. It’s not like I’ve done something out of the ordinary, like outside of the building to hurt myself.” Gano also has heard the frustration from Giants fans and is feeling it too. “I hear everyone else’s frustration, media, fans,” Gano said. “I see everyone’s frustration, and I’m frustrated too. I just want to play ball, and I think just constantly being not able to is tough. “I’m doing everything I can to come back and play.” Graham Gano Is Getting Threats Gano has been getting threats from sports bettors, who have been losing bets by his inability to kick in games, and he detailed some of the threats. “I get people telling me to kill myself every week,” Gano said. “I’ll hit a kick that loses them money or miss a kick that loses them money. It was the other day that someone told me to get cancer and die.” Gano has, fortunately or unfortunately, developed a strong resolve that helps him persevere amid the comments. “Unfortunately that’s part of the game,” Gano said. “I’ll get letters. I’ll get fans telling it to my face, gamedays, the DMs. I hear a lot of it from other guys on the team too. “It’s tough especially when you talk about mental health. But I’ve gotten thick skin over the years.”
