Nate Ebner followed Joe Judge from the Patriots to the Giants last season, signing a one-year deal in March 2020. He is on track for a second season in New York.
Although the veteran special-teamer remains a free agent, Judge said he intends to bring him back for a second season, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). Ebner, 32, is currently participating in a different sport that will occupy his time for a bit.
The Ohio native is training to be part of Team USA’s rugby squad for the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Ebner participated in the 2016 Rio Games, when the Patriots granted him the opportunity to make that team, and suited up for 19 games as part of New England’s Super Bowl champion outfit that year. The expectation this time around is Ebner re-signs with the Giants after the Olympics conclude, Raanan notes. These Games, which the COVID-19 pandemic delayed by a year, will run from July 23-August 8.
Ebner played 16 games for the Giants last season, logging 332 special teams snaps (81% of Big Blue’s special teams plays). The 2021 season would be the former sixth-round pick’s 10th in the NFL.