NEW YORK (AP) — Much has changed since Micah McFadden last played for the New York Giants.
They lost 13 of 17 games including the season opener, during which he got hurt 11 snaps in, and overhauled their entire staff, with John Harbaugh taking over as coach and Dennard Wilson running the defense. Plenty more additions are coming, but McFadden on Wednesday signed a one-year deal worth up to $5.75 million to return, eager to show what he can do after recovering from a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.
“I had spoke with the coaching staff and some people in the building over the weekend, and I knew that there was a possibility that they wanted me back, and I was excited to hear that from them,” McFadden said on a video call with reporters. “I’m excited to be back. I’m excited to play with everybody that’s been here and the guys that we’ve already brought in this offseason and continue to bring in.”
McFadden, 26, is among the holdovers, a homegrown prospect who has been with the team since getting drafted in the fifth round in 2022. The newcomers on defense include fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and defensive backs Greg Newsome and Ar'Darius Washington.
Along with tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard on offense and All-Pro punter Jordan Stout on special teams, Washington also is following Harbaugh to the Giants from Baltimore.
Edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter are not going anywhere, but the inside linebacker position is getting a makeover. Team captain Bobby Okereke was released in a move that saves salary cap space, and Edmunds signed a three-year, $36 million contract as part of filling the void.
"Bringing in Tremaine I think was a great addition," McFadden said. “He’s a great player, great athlete, and I’m excited to get out on the field with him — just learn from him and learn this defense with him and kind of put this thing together.”
New York ranked 28th out of 32 teams on defense in 2025, though there was some improvement down the stretch after interim coach Mike Kafka fired coordinator Shane Bowen and promoted Charlie Bullen for the remainder of the season.
McFadden hopes to fit into Wilson's scheme. He has some familiarity with it from assistants who have worked under Harbaugh. He does not expect to have any restrictions or limitations on his injured foot when spring workouts begin next month.
"Doing great — I’ve improved a lot," McFadden said. “I'm going to go out there, compete and go and try and win a starting job, go put my best foot forward during this offseason and into training camp and we’ll see where it falls after that.”
In the first big surprise of the offseason, Evan Neal is back. The 2022 seventh pick as a tackle who was moved to guard last season but never played because of a mix of losing a camp competition and getting injured figured to look for a change of scenery.
The regime change to Harbaugh, and an offense overseen by new coordinator Matt Nagy, is a different kind of fresh start for a player who's just 25. It remains to be seen whether his future with the organization is at guard or back at tackle, where he played at Alabama and during his first three NFL seasons.
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FILE - Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) runs with the ball past New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (41) during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
FILE - New York Giants linebacker Micah McFadden (41) practices at the team's NFL football training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
