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Former Giants Receiver Earns Top Special Teams Honor in USFL

Derrick Dillon had himself quite the season for the USFL as a return specialist.

Patricia Traina

Former Giants Receiver Earns Top Special Teams Honor in USFL
Former Giants Receiver Earns Top Special Teams Honor in USFL /
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Former New York Giants receiver Derrick Dillon likely helped his case to return to the NFL thanks to a stellar season with the USFL's Memphis Showboat.

Dillon, a kickoff returner for the Showboat, was recognized as the 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the league with 1,109 all-purpose yards and in kick returns (minimum 10) with a 32.8-yard average. 

Dillon was also at the center of a rare "Kick-6" score during the team's Week 6 game on May 20 against the Pittsburgh Maulers. Maulers kicker Chris Blewitt's 59-yard field goal attempt in that game just before halftime sailed wide right. 

Dillon lined up in the endzone, caught the errant kick while skimming the back of the endzone, broke away from three would-be tacklers, and returned the ball 109 yards for the rare play.

The Showboat defeated the Maulers 22-0 in that game. Dillon, who joins the NFL’s Antonio Cromartie, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Jamal Agnew as the only other players in American professional football history with the unbreakable record of a 109-yard return, was named the USFL Week 6 Special Teams Player of the Week.

Dillon, who played his college ball at LSU, was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 draft. He was waived on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day. 

The following year, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Giants on January 5, 2021, but was placed on injured reserve on August 3, 2021. The Giants waived Dillon with an injury settlement on August 11. 

The Giants will be auditioning players for their kickoff and punt return roles this summer.

    

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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.

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