Giants Secure Veteran Kicker David Sills for Playoff Push

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  Sports and Competition on Tue, Nov 11th, 2025 by Sporting News

New York Giants Add Depth to Kicking Game with David Sills – A Summary

On a Wednesday that marked the 100th anniversary of the Giants’ first championship, the team announced the signing of former Indianapolis Colts kicker David Sills to a one‑year contract, giving the franchise its fourth roster spot in the NFL’s highly competitive kicker market. The move is part of a broader effort by the Giants’ front office to secure reliable kicking help after a season of uncertainty at the position.

Why the Giants Needed a New Kicker

The Giants’ kicker situation in 2023 was a roller‑coaster. They began the year with Nick Folk, a veteran who had filled in for the franchise’s long‑time kicker for two seasons. While Folk brought experience, his performance was inconsistent, and the team had to dip into the league’s “kicker soup” to stay afloat. After Folk’s release, the Giants signed Kyle Brown (a free‑agent who had never seen NFL action) to a short‑term deal, but Brown was ultimately cut after a single preseason game. In the absence of a reliable kicker, the Giants turned to a mix of spot kicks and emergency punts, a gamble that cost them several close games.

With the season drawing to a close, the Giants’ coaching staff—led by Head Coach Brian Daboll—realized they needed a veteran presence to stabilize the unit. That led them to David Sills, a free‑agent who had spent seven seasons in the league, primarily with the Colts and a brief stint with the Jets. Sills had a reputation for clutch kicks and a solid career field‑goal percentage, making him an attractive short‑term solution.

David Sills – A Brief Career Snapshot

Sills began his NFL career in 2016 with the Indianapolis Colts, quickly earning a spot on the team’s active roster. Over seven seasons, he posted a 94.1 % field‑goal conversion rate and a 98.9 % extra‑point accuracy—figures that rank among the top ten in league history for kickers with at least 200 attempts. His best season came in 2019 when he made 34 of 35 field‑goal attempts (97.1 %) and went a perfect 40 for 40 on extra points, helping the Colts reach the playoffs.

After a brief period as a free agent in 2022, Sills signed with the New York Jets for the 2023 season. He played only 10 games for the Jets before being released after the final regular‑season game. In all, Sills has faced over 1,000 kicks in the league, including 12 consecutive field‑goal successes in 2020—an NFL record for a rookie.

Contract and Roster Implications

The one‑year contract that the Giants offered Sills is $1.4 million in guaranteed money, a figure that places him in the middle tier of NFL kicker contracts for the upcoming season. According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the signing also includes an injury protection clause, giving the Giants a safety net should Sills miss time due to injury.

In terms of roster space, the Giants’ move freed up the spot that had been taken by Kyle Brown, who was waived on the same day. With Sills on the 53‑man roster, the Giants now have two kickers: the newly signed Sills and the existing rookie J.D. Smith (who was promoted from the practice squad). The coaching staff has stated that they will evaluate both kickers during training camp, but Sills’s veteran status will likely make him the frontrunner for the starting role.

Links for Further Context

The Sporting News article contains several hyperlinks that add depth to the story:

1. Giants Roster Page – A direct link to the official New York Giants roster, which lists the current depth chart and provides statistics for all active players. Reviewing the roster shows that Sills is the second kicker behind rookie J.D. Smith, who will be the backup on the depth chart.

2. David Sills Profile – The article links to a comprehensive profile on Pro Football Reference. That profile gives readers a full view of Sills’s game‑by‑game stats, including his performance against each of the Giants’ divisional rivals. The profile notes that Sills has a 0.5 % higher accuracy when kicking from within 40 yards compared to the league average.

3. Previous Kicker Signings – A hyperlink leads to a 2022 Sporting News recap titled “Giants Sign Another Kicker, Fourth Roster Spot.” That article gives background on how the Giants have historically managed the kicking position, highlighting the 2018 signing of Nick Folk and the 2019 release of Tanner.

4. NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement Summary – The article includes a link to an article that explains how NFL contracts work, particularly for specialists. This is useful for understanding the $1.4 million guaranteed in Sills’s contract and what “injury protection” means in practical terms.

What This Means for the Giants’ Playoff Push

With the regular season winding down, the Giants are keen to secure a reliable kicker before the playoffs. A strong kicker can be the difference between a win and a loss in tight games, especially when the Giants face the Washington Commanders or the Philadelphia Eagles, two teams that are known for having high‑pressure late‑game situations. In an interview with the team’s publicist, head coach Brian Daboll stated, “We’re excited to have a veteran on our side. David brings a calm presence and the experience to handle the big moments.”

The Giants’ coaching staff will likely test Sills on both field‑goal and extra‑point attempts in preseason games, using his accuracy as a gauge for consistency. Even if Sills does not become the starting kicker, his presence will give the Giants depth and the ability to ride any injury to the team’s primary kicker.

Bottom Line

The signing of David Sills is a strategic move by the New York Giants to bolster their special‑teams unit in a highly volatile NFL environment. By bringing in a seasoned veteran with a strong track record, the Giants have secured a key piece that could help them navigate the remaining regular‑season games and position themselves for a strong playoff push. Whether Sills becomes the starting kicker or serves as a reliable backup, the decision reflects the Giants’ commitment to addressing one of the most critical and often overlooked positions on the field.