PHOENIX, AZ — The New York Giants officially released veteran kicker Graham Gano on Tuesday after he failed his team physical during the NFL Annual Meeting. The move ends Gano’s six-season tenure in East Rutherford and immediately clears $4.5 million in salary cap space for a franchise currently undergoing a massive identity shift under new head coach John Harbaugh.
New York didn’t wait for the ink to dry on Gano’s release papers before triggering their contingency plan. The team reached an agreement with former Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders to take over the starting role. Sanders, who is looking to rebound after his own injury-plagued 2025, provides the Giants with a proven leg at a fraction of Gano’s previous cost.
While Gano remained lethal when healthy—hitting 90 percent of his field goals and every extra point last season—the Giants couldn’t ignore the frequency of his absences. Gano suited up for just 23 games over the last three seasons, including only five appearances in 2025. Between recurring groin issues and a season-ending neck injury, the 38-year-old’s reliability became a liability for a team that lost several one-score games last year.
The desert heat in Phoenix provided a sharp backdrop for the transaction. As owners and coaches gathered to discuss rule changes, Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Schoen focused on the roster’s bottom line. By moving on from Gano, the Giants take a $1.25 million dead cap hit but gain the flexibility needed to navigate a critical 2026 draft where they hold the No. 5 overall pick.
“Graham has been a pro’s pro and a cornerstone here, but the physical didn’t go the way we needed. In this league, you have to be available. We’re building something new, and Jason Sanders gives us a fresh start with a guy who has been in the fire before.”
— John Harbaugh, New York Giants Head Coach
The release of Gano is just one ripple in the larger wave Harbaugh has crashed into the organization. After a dismal four-win season in 2025, the Giants are purging high-priced veterans in favor of a younger, more durable core. Sanders arrives on a one-year deal worth approximately $1.4 million, a move that signals the Giants are prioritizing cap health as they look to surround 2025 first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart with more talent.
All eyes now turn to late April. With the fifth pick, the Giants are positioned to snag a blue-chip defender like Abdul Carter or potentially trade down to stockpile more picks for Harbaugh’s vision. For Gano, the road ahead is murky. After a career that saw him go from an undrafted free agent in 2009 to a Pro Bowl mainstay in Carolina and New York, he must now prove he can pass a physical before another contender takes a flyer on his veteran leg.
