1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Picked a nice, warm day. I wanted to make sure 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: everybody had UH had a chance to get break a 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: little sweat before we got in here. For those who 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 1: don't know, I'm Justin Pugh. Played here six of my 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: eleven years in the NFL, and not many players get 6 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: to go out on their terms. And after eleven years 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: playing in the NFL, I am officially retiring from the league. 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: Played eleven last year, thought I was gonna do another one, 9 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: just didn't have it in the have it in the tank, 10 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: started losing weight, started feeling good, and UH didn't want 11 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: to do it. Didn't want to do a twelfth year, 12 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: and ended up going into the stands with the fans 13 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: for my twelfth year. But like every little boy, I 14 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: always dreamed of playing in the in the NFL or 15 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: some sport, probably ice hockey actually growing up, and I'd 16 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: always mimic that game winning shot or that game winning catch. 17 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: I definitely never planned on making a block so Eli 18 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: could throw the ball down the field or Kyler Murray 19 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: could make something. I never dreamed of being an offensive lineman. 20 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: I don't think any little boys are out there right now. 21 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: I'd be like, oh, let me pass that, and and 22 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: blocking the in the player to make something happen. But 23 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: what I realized that offensive line was it was the 24 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: position that was for me. It was it was I 25 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: was built perfectly for it, and it's something that you 26 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: don't you don't choose. Everyone wants to be that that 27 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 1: star position, but it's something that really defined me as 28 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: a as a as a man, as a father, and 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: as a teammate. So really, I wanted to do a 30 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: lot of thank yous today, to be quite honest with 31 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: you guys, I'll answer any questions, but like I have 32 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: my my direct family here today and never got a 33 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: chance to thank them publicly. First, just quick highlights, I 34 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: just want to thank where I'm from, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 35 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 1: Rolling Hills Elementary, Howell Middle School, counter Rock South, And 36 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: I'm gonna thank all my teammates that I played with there. 37 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna put out a longer post thanking 38 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: everyone more individually, but first I want to thank everyone there. 39 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: Then Syracuse University really made me from this wide eyed 40 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: freshman calling my mom crying thinking I couldn't play Division one, 41 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: to be in an NFL prospect and getting a chance 42 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: to hear my name called moving on from Syracuse coming 43 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: to the New York Giants. I remember when I got drafted. 44 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: We just kept saying, and this is not just because 45 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: I grew up an Eagles fan, the EF in New 46 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: York Giants. I just kept saying that like an all. 47 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,519 Speaker 1: And then I got here and got a chance to 48 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,399 Speaker 1: see what it's like to play for the New York 49 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: e f and Giants, and it was a dream come true. 50 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: I still get goosebumps talking about it. Yeah, yeah, it was. 51 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: It was good. So moving on left the Giants, and really, 52 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 1: when I went to Arizona's where I learned about the 53 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: business of sports. You don't always I never in a 54 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: million years thought I'd ever leave the New York Giants 55 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: and go anywhere else. And Arizona is really where I 56 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: grew up as a man, I grew up as a father. 57 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: I moved out there with my now wife and we 58 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: were both we were both kids at the time. And 59 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: now I'm coming back with my daughter in our hands. 60 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: And I always we always promised her we get her 61 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: back on the field. Now I'm not wearing pads like 62 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: I wish I was, but we still got her back 63 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: on the field nonetheless, and Arizona. I just really want 64 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: to thank that organization for what they did for me 65 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: and my family, the bid Wells. It was a tremendous 66 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: opportunity for me to go out there after ten years. 67 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: I thought it was over. I tore my ACL, the 68 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: career was done. I had never been injured like that 69 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: in in my entire career, so I said, hey, it's 70 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: time to hang them up. I can't imagine how many 71 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: countless times my family came out to Arizona for the 72 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: last game. It was always the last game, the last 73 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: time I went out there, and this really felt like 74 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: it was it. All of a sudden, the New York 75 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: Giants are in town and they're like, hey, we had 76 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: a left guard get her were playing the Cardinals. You 77 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: think there's an opportunity for you to come back now. 78 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: I weigh two hundred and seventy pounds at the time. 79 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: I lied to Joe Shane and those guys told him 80 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: I was a little bit heavier. You guys all saw 81 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: me like there was really no hiding how much I 82 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: weighed at that time. But at the end of the day, 83 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: I knew something that was that always stuck with me. 84 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: The Giants gave me my opportunity, and there was something 85 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: special about putting that New York logo on one more time. 86 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: There was something special about finishing my career where I started. 87 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: There was something special about being back in this city, 88 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: and I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. 89 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: So I had him put pads on. I went out 90 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: and did a little workout, and lo and behold, we 91 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: had a little little straight off the couch mel In, 92 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: which was amazing. I could have ended my career after 93 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: that game. That's probably why Joe Shane had to negotiate 94 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: with me a little bit, because I was ready to 95 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: walk away. That was like my with your shield er 96 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: on it moment. I went out there on Sunday football, 97 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: I hadn't played in a year and got after it. 98 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: And we still should have won that game. I'm telling 99 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: the reps right now, we should have won that one. 100 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: But really I gave everything that year. I gave everything 101 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: I had to this organization, to my family. It was 102 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: an amazing moment to have my family be able to 103 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: come back out and be a part of that. And 104 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: that was when I knew it was done. Last year. 105 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: It never was a I never thought I was gonna 106 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: come back and play last year, to be quite honest 107 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: with you. So with that being said, I love to 108 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: thank the New York Giants organization, all my teammates that 109 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: I played with throughout the years. There's so many of 110 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: my teammates the offensive line room, like my guys, I 111 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: love you. I love you so much man. That was 112 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: my favorite part was always being a part of the group, 113 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: being a part of the team. I want to thank 114 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: the mayor, the Tish family, and then all the unsung heroes, 115 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: everyone that's in this building, all the staff, the security, 116 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: the beat writers, all of you guys as it become 117 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: my friends throughout the years, the content creators. I've now 118 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: gone into that space a little bit, so I want 119 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: to thank you guys personally for helping me share my 120 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: story with the fans. To the fans, it's been an 121 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: amazing ride. To support you guys have shown me has 122 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: been tremendous. I would never would have thought I'd spend 123 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: twelve years in the NFL, I say now. I spent 124 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: eleven as a player, and I spent the last one 125 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: as a professional fan. I went to every Thursday night 126 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: football game last year and really got a sense of 127 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: what goes into the fandom of this game, and what 128 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: makes this so special. Why all of us have jobs 129 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: here today is because those people that were outside cheering 130 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: their heads off. So I will never take for granted 131 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: how important those folks are. And thank you from the 132 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: bottom of my heart for supporting me through the good, 133 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: the bad, the ups and the downs. All right now, 134 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to not get too emotional. I heard 135 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: a couple guys here that've gotten emotional before. I want 136 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: to thank my friends and my family. Obviously couldn't have 137 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: done it without you guys keeping my head on straight 138 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: and again all those last games that I kept putting 139 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: you guys through. Every player has a team, and my 140 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: team was one of the best. Everyone always puts it 141 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: in air quotes. What is a team? You know? I 142 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: have to give a shout out to mind my agent 143 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: Andy Ross, from the day I signed with him taking 144 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: care of us and taking care of our family, to 145 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: my uncle first and my financial advisor second, John Whitehead. 146 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: He's someone that has guided me through that process and 147 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: has really formed a lot of the opinions I feel 148 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: about finances and how guys take care of it, which 149 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: I would love to talk more about as we continue. 150 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 1: When you marry someone, you marry their family, so they're 151 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: not here right now, my in lost Tom Marie and 152 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: my brother in Lawsu. I'm just happy to be a 153 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: part of that. That crew. To my crew of friends, 154 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: the crew, it's always been from the womb to the tomb. 155 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: I love you guys. To my siblings that are here today, 156 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: It's always been about competition in our family. It's always 157 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: been about hard work. I think about all like the 158 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: backyard of the cross sessions we had are making me 159 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: play goalie with one leg pad and having to having 160 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: to overcome that. I truly believe like the competition and 161 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: the way we grew up with the hard work and 162 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: the dedication gave me the edge and how I played 163 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: as a player. So I thank you guys for creating 164 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: that environment. Yeah to my parents Carolyn and Frank, this 165 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been impossible without your support. I was gonna 166 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: add live here, but I really I'm just gonna read it. 167 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: I might have been a failed defensive lineman, Frank if 168 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: you didn't push me to the side. When I was 169 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: a SAH I always thought myself as a defensive lineman. 170 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 1: My stepdad, Frank who really has been my father throughout 171 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: my whole life. He's always been that person I always call. 172 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: Doesn't get enough thanks. From all the trips to Syracuse, 173 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: to Missouri to Seattle, Washington, you guys have been there 174 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: through it all and always knew you'd be there for me. 175 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: And to my mom, I'm crying because she's crying. I'm 176 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: not crying for any other reason. My mom cries just 177 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: from happiness of coming into the game. So I truly 178 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: believe I can get that from her to be able 179 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: to play in this business. You realize who means the 180 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: most and every tough game I had, every every incident, 181 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: and throughout my entire life, You've always been their mom. 182 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: I love you. To my daughter Josephine, I always said 183 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: that Mommy and Daddy made a promise to bring you back. 184 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: I didn't get a chance to have you on the field. 185 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: You were in Mommy's belly, But I love you and 186 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: she got to run around today and have a fantastic afternoon. 187 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: To my wife Angela, we h Like I said, we 188 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: left New York as kids, and we came back as parents. 189 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: We came back as adults. Life hasn't always been easy. 190 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: You've been with me through the lowest of lows and 191 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: the highest of highs for me tearing my knee and 192 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: not being able to walk around, to deal with me 193 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: trying to figure out if I'm gonna play football or 194 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: not and what that next phase looks like. And no 195 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: one ever talks about how hard that can be on. 196 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: A family can be hard on, you know, relationship with 197 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: our daughter. And you've been there and been my rock 198 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: through all. But it wasn't for you, we wouldn't we 199 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't be standing where we are at today and as 200 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: happy as we are. So I say that with a 201 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: smile on my face and no more tears. I've always 202 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: myself on consistency, like, regardless of the highs of the lows, 203 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: I've been on some bad teams. We started out zero 204 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: and six my rookie year. I've always keeped priding myself 205 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: on you know where you're getting from Justin Pugh every 206 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: single day, from the guys in the room to the 207 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: coaches in the room, they always knew that when you 208 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: walked in, Justin Pugh was going to put a smile 209 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 1: on your face. And that's what I hope I did 210 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: for you guys. That's what I hope I did for 211 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: this fan base more impotently, I hope I did with 212 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: my teammates, my coaches, the guys that I respect and 213 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: I love so much. I realize now didn't even though 214 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: I never dreamed of being an offensive line and it 215 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: was my calling. I was built to work alongside other guys. 216 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: I was built to be part of a five man 217 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: unit that had to work as one. I was built 218 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: for those offensive line dinners where we talked about everything 219 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: other than football and got to know each other and 220 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: loved one another. I was built to help players figure 221 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: out what they want to do beyond the game, and 222 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: that's what my purpose, my passion, and everything will be 223 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: focused towards going forward. And at the end of the day, 224 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: it's been a hell of a ride. Lifelike football isn't 225 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: about the wins or losses. It's about the journey to 226 00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: people and the memories we create along the way. So 227 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: thank you to Paul, Thank you to everyone out there 228 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: that has supported this journey more supporting. Thank you to 229 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: my family. Love you guys, Go Giants, Go Cardinals. We'll 230 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: see you guys the next time.