Holland plans to bring leadership and energy to Giants Defense
Jevon Holland may be new to the New York Giants, but whether it’s orchestrating the defense from the safety spot or mentoring younger teammates he’s already sounding like someone ready to take on responsibility. The former Miami Dolphins standout met with reporters on Tuesday and discussed what it’s been like settling into a new environment, and why he’s optimistic about the team’s direction under head coach Brian Daboll.
So far, Holland says the transition has been smooth. The defense, he noted, feels familiar in many ways to schemes he’s played in before—particularly with its focus on fundamentals and communication. What stands out most to him is the depth and talent at every level.
“We’ve got a stout front, pass rushers, heavy hitting linebackers, lockdown DBs,” he said.
That chemistry has been building quickly in the secondary, where the team’s top players were all on the field together Tuesday. While Holland downplayed talk of “starters” this early in the offseason, he emphasized how crucial it is to get everyone speaking the same football language before live action begins.
Holland also praised rookie safety Tyler Nubin, calling him “a hell of a player and a great kid,” and expressed excitement about working alongside cornerback Deonte Banks, who he said “has all the talent in the world.”
Leadership is something Holland has brought with him from Miami, but he’s not expecting to just walk into a captain role. He made it clear that respect has to be earned first.
“I’m new, so they don’t owe me anything,” he said. “But yeah, I have to earn the respect and then from there, the chips fall where they may.”
Still, that leadership shows up naturally in how he commands the back end of the defense. Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, a team captain, has already pointed out Holland’s vocal presence in organizing teammates during practice.
“That’s just the job of a safety,” Holland said. “I’m behind everybody so I can see—it’s just putting everybody in place.”
One big piece of the leadership puzzle, according to Holland, comes from the culture being established by Daboll and the team’s continued connection with past Giants greats. Former players like Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, MIchael Strahan, Lawrence Taylor and Howard Cross have all spoken to the team this offseason, something Holland says sets a tone and establishes a clear standard.
“They’re just giving us the blueprint to what success is and how they got to it,” Holland said. “It aligns perfectly with what Coach Dabs has been saying.”
As for Daboll himself, Holland had nothing but praise: “He knows a lot of football. He’s been around a lot of winning football, and you can tell when you talk to him.”
Holland also gave a nod to quarterback Russell Wilson’s presence on the field, saying his poise and comfort in the pocket are immediately noticeable. That level of experience, along with what the defense is building, has Holland optimistic.
The Giants haven’t made the leap yet, but with voices like Holland’s emerging, the foundation is being set.
