Jake Fromm Realizes Dream of Playing in NFL

Fromm makes his NFL debut during garbage time of Giants' 21-6 loss to Dallas.
Jake Fromm Realizes Dream of Playing in NFL
Jake Fromm Realizes Dream of Playing in NFL /
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Quarterback Jake Fromm waited his entire life to hear his number called in an NFL game, so you can bet the ranch he was going to make sure he was as prepared as possible.

That's exactly what happened Sunday as the New York Giants, going nowhere with veteran Mike Glennon at quarterback, inserted Fromm into the game with 3:41 left in the game.  

Fromm didn't exactly light things up, going six of 12 for 82 yards, but he did engineer perhaps the best-looking drive on offense for the Giants all game long.

Stats aside, Fromm, who during the broadcast was revealed to have learned roughly 60 percent of the team's playbook, was a calm and steady leader who not only got the offense lined up quickly but avoided running the play clock down to the nub as Mike Glennon had done for most of the game.

He was not overwhelmed at any point and showed a strong huddle command while getting his passes out quickly and, more importantly, putting them closer to within the receivers' catch radius to where they didn't have to work as hard for the ball.

New York Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) cannot come up with the touchdown pass with defense by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in the first half at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford.
Abysmal Giants Flounder in 21-6 Loss to Cowboys :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

The abysmal Giants offense fails to score a touchdown on offense for the second time in their last three games, and coughs up the ball four times.


New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) falls clutching his left leg late in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 21-6, on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford.
Giants Receiver Sterling Shepard Suffered Torn Achilles :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard's injury filled season took a turn for the worse when he blew out his Achilles in the game's final two minutes.


New York Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter (59) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) for a fumble and Giants recovery in the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 21-6, on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in East Rutherford.
Giants Struggles Continue in Latest Fail vs. Dallas: Instant Reaction :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Giants abysmal 2021 season can be summed up simply as "rinse and repeat" as they continue to hurt themselves.


Leonard Williams on Why He Played Through Painful Triceps Injury / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Williams wasn't about to let a painful triceps injury stop him from playing a football game, even if his team isn't playing for anything.  


While still delivering the ball side-armed and not showing stellar mobility or arm strength, Fromm did just enough to prompt head coach Joe Judge to admit that the coaching staff would "open a discussion" regarding the starting quarterback for next week's game at Philadelphia if Daniel Jones remains sidelined with a neck ailment.

"We got to a point in the game where I wanted to see what Jake could do, point blank," Judge said after the game. "We weren’t doing enough moving the ball otherwise, so I wanted to make sure I had the chance to see Jake and that will obviously open up a conversation about what we’re going to do this week." 

Fromm said he remained actively involved and in tune with the play calls coming from the sideline so that if he were called upon, he'd have a feel for the flow of the game.

"I was just trying to stay prepared throughout the whole game," he said. "I didn't know if I was going in at any particular time. I was just trying to stay ready. They told me there late in the fourth quarter, ‘Hey, you're up.’ I was just trying to get ready and try to make something happen."

In his limited snaps, Fromm seemed more certain of where to go with the ball and made sure to avoid just putting it up for grabs. In short, it was a performance filled with lots of smarts, accuracy, decision-making, and leadership. 

Fromm, however, said he would have liked to have gotten the ball into the end zone on that one drive. 

"When you get close like that, obviously you want to punch it in and definitely get six, especially in that situation we were in," he said. 

"I was just trying to get shots at the end zone and give us enough time for us to get a drive there after that. There's always some plays you want back. Obviously, I just wish we would have executed there, got into the end zone, and got six."

He has a good chance of making up for that next week if Jones remains sidelined.


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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.