Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada will begin the season as the New York Giants' starting placekicker, head coach John Harbaugh announced following the team's 23-6 preseason victory over the New York Jets on Friday night at MetLife Stadium. Zvada capped off a strong summer with a perfect performance in the preseason finale, making all three of his field goal attempts from 23, 53, and 46 yards.
Harbaugh stated that Zvada's performance in the final game was the "last step to prove he could do a whole game." The 22-year-old from the University of Michigan had been in a competition with veteran kicker Ben Sauls, who successfully converted eight field goals late last season. While Sauls also had a strong training camp, Zvada ultimately outkicked him for the position.
"I would say Ben also won a job, he should be kicking in the National Football League based on the fact if we didn’t have Dominic, Ben would have been the guy," Harbaugh said of Sauls. "I thought he had a great camp as well."
The Giants utilized the preseason finale to strategically evaluate players and test different coaching scenarios. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was not on play-calling duty for the offense, with quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan taking over. Harbaugh described the change as an "opportunity to change it up a little bit" and a preparedness measure, suggesting Callahan could step in if Nagy were unavailable.
Defensive play-calling also saw a temporary shift in the previous week's game against the Dolphins, with Donald D’Alesio, the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach, calling some defensive plays. The team also strategically fielded starters, with three starting interior offensive linemen—Sisi Mauigoa, John Michael Schmitz Jr., and Jon Runyan—playing together. In one notable play, rookie guard Sisi Mauigoa blocked his older brother, Jets linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, on a touchdown run by Tyrone Tracy Jr.