With ‘no security’, Giants return man Ihmir Smith-Marsette playing for his livelihood

Smith-Marsette is the poster child for why these late-season games can mean so much to players

Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the perfect example of a New York Giants player for whom the final few games of the season, meaningless in the standings for a team that is now 3-13, mean everything when it comes to advancing — or keeping — a career.

Smith-Marsette, signed off the street early in the season to replace the injured Gunner Olszewski as the Giants’ primary punt and kickoff returner, ran a kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown on Sunday as the Giants defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 45-33.

“I don’t have no security after this year. It’s coming down to the last game. I don’t have no security nowhere,” said Smith-Marsette, who is on his fourth team since being a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and will be a free agent this offseason. “My back’s against the wall. I need to show the whole world what I can do just so I can at least be thought about for next year. Somebody could take that next year and be like, hey, this kid did something.

“Whether it’s the first game or the last game, I’m going to give it my all. I don’t know what may happen. When a general manager or the scouts turn on that tape, they’re not going to turn on the record with it, 3-13 or whatever. They’re not going to turn on which week it was. They’re only looking at the film. For a person like me, all I can do is put good film out there.”

Smith-Marsette is part of a group of Giants who have gotten opportunities to further their careers as the season spiraled out of control. Among them are players like defensive linemen Elijah Garcia and Cory Durden, offensive lineman Jake Kubas and even quarterback Drew Lock.

Garcia recovered an Indianapolis fumble late in Sunday’s victory and celebrated by running along the stands to high-five fans with the ball cradled in his left arm.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“It means more to us because we’re finally getting a chance to display what we’re capable of,” Smith-Marsette said. “You never know who that may open the eye to somebody in this business.

“And they might be like, you know what, let’s see what that kid got. And it just worked out like that. You hear stories like that all the time.

Smith-Marsette pointed to Adam Thielen, a former undrafted free agent wide receiver who has made two Pro Bowls, has 680 receptions and tied an NFL record in 2018 with eight straight 100-yard receiving games.

“He’s a walk-on, try-out type person,” Smith-Marsette said. “Just make plays, make plays, make plays, and now look at him. He got a chance and he’s got eight straight 100-yard games in the league. And then after that, now he’s Adam Thielen.”

Smith-Marsette returned a punt for a touchdown last season with the Carolina Panthers. Sunday’s kickoff return was the first kickoff return touchdown of his career and earned him Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Smith-Marsette said he has been telling his teammates all year he could take one to the house.

“I do tell them that every time. You probably could look back at however many interviews I did, I’m always going to say I feel like every time the ball touches my hands it’s going to go to the house,” Smith-Marsette said. “I believe in myself and I believe in the guys out there blocking with me because I instill it in their head. It has a chance every time it touches my hands. I just have that ability and I believe in myself 100%.

“I feel like I can make those plays all the time.”

Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial was, of course, thrilled to see Smith-Marsette back up his words.

“When somebody is telling you everything that they can do, you still want to be able to see it, and when he’s put pen to paper and has done it in this league here and in other places, you’re like, ‘okay, this guy obviously has done it and can say he’s done it and says that he can continue to do it’,” Ghobrial said. “And everybody in the building believes that he can, including his teammates.”

Smith-Marsette brings an energy that is obvious just having a conversation with him.

“It starts with the personality and his energy. It’s truly contagious. It is and when you’re looking at a returner in general, it always starts with the skill set, obviously, but there’s a plus-one attribute that not a lot of people see, and that’s the person, the human being. When people truly feel like that guy can go the distance, there’s a little bit more added bonus to making that block a little bit tighter, being a little bit more aggressive to finish those blocks, and because Ihmir is that type of person, he gives you the conviction that anytime he touches the ball in his hand, he’s going to try and score,” Ghobrial said.

Smith-Marsette averages 34.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns. That would lead the NFL is he had enough returns to qualify. He has also averaged 7.5 yards on punt returns.

“You see the speed. You see the ball skills, the ability to make you miss, all things that obviously he’s been able to show, and I’m really happy for him because he does work his tail off,” Ghobrial said.

Nobody knows what will happen with Giants GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll after Sunday, adding a layer of uncertainty to Smith-Marsette’s future. He has done enough good work this season that he should find an opportunity somewhere. Smith-Marsette will, though, be looking to make one final good impression on Sunday vs. the Eagles.