New York Giants Joe Judge Empowering Players To Lead Social Justice Campaign

With professional athletes across the country using their platforms to help promote activism and social justice, Giants head coach Joe Judge has empowered his players to be leaders both on and off the field.

When Joe Judge took the Giants head coaching job, he knew that one of the things he wanted to have in his locker room was a leadership council consisting of both young and veteran players.

In having assembled a group of leaders who include running back Saquon Barkley, receiver Sterling Shepard, safety Jabrill Peppers, and quarterback Daniel Jones to name a few, Judge not only has a group he can depend on to ensure that the message from the staff makes its way to all corners of the locker room, he also has a group that has embraced his vision of being pillars in the community.

Such has been the case all off-season when the Giants, in response to multiple police brutality episodes, have sought ways to build stronger communication by collaborating with key grassroots organizations throughout the tristate area.

“We split up into different groups and focused on all the different boroughs in New York," said defensive tackle Leonard Williams. "Something in my group that we have been focusing on is police reform and trying to build relationships between officers and the community.”

The nine organizations the Giants have partnered with are United Way of NYC, Far Rockaway Colts (NYPD), New York City Police Foundation, RISE, Bronx Defenders, Eva’s Village, East Orange Mayor’s Office, My Sisters’ Place and Covenant House.

More recently, Judge leaned on the voices of his players and the leadership council in making decisions regarding whether to practice this week following the shooting of Jacob Blake, who was shot multiple times in the back by law enforcement officers in Wisconsin.

Whereas the NBA, WNBA, and some NFL teams decided to pause their sports activities to reflect and discuss how to use their platforms to influence change, the Giants, who are already working tirelessly behind the scenes to enact change, decided to work Wednesday and Thursday.

"Our players voiced that opinion, they wanted to continue going with it," said Judge during a video press conference. "We had conversations two days ago and then yesterday but these guys have been very urgent from continuing on with work. That doesn't detract at all from what we're doing in the community."

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Judge said he planned to continue gathering with his leadership council on Thursday as they contemplated whether to proceed with their scheduled blue vs. white scrimmage set for Saturday night.

Williams initially told reporters that the players' decision to continue practicing was done to ensure the younger and less experienced players trying to make the roster had every opportunity to do so.

But as of Thursday, there was to be additional discussion regarding the team's next steps, with Judge, team COO John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch there to support the players in whatever they decided.

"Coach Judge has done a really great job and all of the coaches have done a great job of hearing us and listening and being on board with us," said Barkley.

The leadership council concept is nothing new to the Giants. Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin introduced the leadership council following the 2006 season, which was widely credited for easing relationships with the players who initially were rubbed the wrong way by Coughlin's rigidness.

Judge never worked for Coughlin, but he did work for one of Coughlin's former colleagues under Bill Parcells, that being Bill Belichick, currently the head coach in New England who also implemented a leadership council. Judge was even chosen to be the main liaison from the coaching staff for the leadership council.

While the Giants' council only includes a select number of players, they make it a priority to include the voices of the entire team and ensure that no teammate goes unheard.

"It may sound like a leadership group--there is 10-12 of us--but every time we go and make decisions it's a whole team," Barkley said.

"If you want to learn about what's going on in this world but our sport too then it's going to take a team effort to get the job done, and it's going to take a team effort to make a smart change in our community."