Giants Safety Battle Heats Up
Jason Pinnock hasn’t reclaimed his old No. 27 jersey from Tyler Nubin, but he’s starting to get more snaps with the starting safety unit.
The training camp for the Giants has brought some unexpected—maybe even concerning—competition at the safety position. Nubin, who was drafted in the second round in 2024 and is now a second-year starter, has been rotating in the first-team defense alongside Pinnock and Ar’Darius Washington.
“I think it’s a testament to how well they’re performing,” remarked head coach John Harbaugh after Wednesday’s practice. “They’ve been playing like starters for several reps. It’s beneficial to evaluate them in different scenarios. That’s what training camp is all about.”
Pinnock coached Nubin as a rookie when they formed a safety tandem, but he took a year off with the 49ers in free agency. The Giants paired Nubin with Jevon Holland in 2025. However, they brought Pinnock back this offseason, and he will wear a new number, No. 25, in the preseason match against the Vikings.
“Honestly, I’m an East Coast kid,” Pinnock shared, reflecting on his journey. “I had to go back home. I couldn’t help it.” He acknowledged the ups and downs of the journey, indicating, “But everyone’s path is different.”
Pinnock and Nubin are close friends, having attended each other’s baby showers, with Nubin even invited to Pinnock’s upcoming wedding. Still, the competition for playtime is intense. In fact, it’s pretty fierce.
The Giants initially listed Nubin and Holland as starters, with Pinnock and Washington as backups. While Holland’s spot is secure, Nubin seems to have slipped from early supportive comments by Harbaugh to a more uncertain position.
“That’s my brother,” Pinnock said, speaking of Nubin, although he added, “This is what sports involve. We get along, but we’re each other’s biggest competitors. It just… is what it is.”
Washington is considered a wild card since he has experience playing against the Ravens and can switch between safety or challenge for the slot cornerback position, which is currently held by Jrue Phillips, who’s out with a knee injury.
Pinnock has a strong history with the Giants and is familiar with the new coordinator Denard Wilson’s system, which he finds reminiscent of former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. From 2022 to 2024, Pinnock started 37 games, racking up two interceptions and three forced fumbles.
“Whenever I have the chance, I rise to the occasion,” Pinnock stated. “Whenever you put me out there, I’m going to perform. This is a new defensive scheme, so my prior experience won’t hold much weight.”
Nubin, known for his hard-hitting style, lost eight pounds during the offseason to improve his speed and correct a habit of not being able to track down runners. However, he has given up some big plays in camp, like allowing Xavier Gipson to exploit his speed or JuJu Smith-Schuster to make a touchdown catch despite being out of position.
“You have to maintain a sense of urgency in this league. You never know when it’s going to be your last snap,” Nubin emphasized. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you were drafted. So my urgency is always high.”
Nubin left college with an impressive record of 13 career interceptions. He is keen on the new plans from Wilson that allow for some packages to switch things up.
“This gives us numerous chances to make plays,” Nubin noted. “I really excel at focusing on quarterbacks, which is something I did well in college. It’s always an opportunistic defense.”
From an outsider’s perspective, the secondary might appear to be the weak point in what could otherwise be a dominant defense. Both starting cornerback positions are still up for grabs.
Some campers would argue that this theory is premature until the results are in. “We’re full of starters,” Pinnock commented. “It’s about how things unfold. It’s a best-of-the-best scenario.”
