Former New York Giants stalwart Osi Umenyiora has signed a one day contract with the G-Men and has decided to retire after 11 years in the NFL at the age of 33. The Giants selected Umenyiora in the 2nd Round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Troy University. In his career he made it to two Pro Bowls, and was named First Team All-Pro twice. He was also named Second Team All-Pro once.

In 2012 the Giants let an aging Umenyiora go, and he went to the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons. In his career with Atlanta he had one pick-six, which was his only interception with the Falcons. He also forced three fumbles, had one fumble recovery, 10 sacks, 40 tackles, and 19 assists. In his entire career with both the Giants and Falcons, Umenyiora had 14 fumble recoveries, 85 sacks, 301 tackles, and 134 assists.

The two time Super Bowl champion was a key member of the Giants 2007 and 2011 championship teams. In 2007, on the way to the upset Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, he had a fumble recovery during the season and helped disrupt the opposing offense with Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck. In 2011, he had a much better post season, forcing a fumble, registering three and a half sacks, getting six tackles, and two assists on tackles.

Umenyiora joked in his press conference on Wednesday, which was held at the Quest Diagnostics Center, right next to MetLife Stadium, about what took so long between the announcement that he would retire and the press conference today: “Some of you might have been wondering what took so long but I just want you guys to know that for the past 3 weeks I’ve been in negotiations with (Giants GM) Jerry Reese about the terms of this one day contract. I wanted a two day contract but obviously Jerry wasn’t cool for that. So we finally settled on a one day contract and I’m here.”

According to Giants.com it took three weeks because he received offers from unnamed NFL teams. According to Giants.com, head coach Tom Coughlin talked about what image he thinks of when he thinks of Osi and his defensive battery mates, Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan; specifically in Super Bowl XLVII, “In my mind, when I think of [Super Bowl] 42, I see 92, 72, 91 walking away with (New England quarterback Tom) Brady laying on the ground. I’ll never forget that picture. That’s a beauty.” 

In Umenyiora's press conference, he also told little anecdotes about Tom Coughlin, and owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.

Osi even talked about leaving the Giants and having to adjust to Atlanta and the family atmosphere the Giants have, “You miss everything, there’s nothing like being a New York Giant…it’s easy to think one thing but once you get the chance to go somewhere else and experience something else you truly realize what family is and New York is home for me. I would literally be on the plane and I love my Atlanta teammates don’t get me wrong, we would be watching games, we would watch the Giants and I would be openly cheering for the Giants and I’m playing for the Atlanta Falcons.”

The New York Giants made a very nice video tribute for Osi Umenyiora, which showed him throughout his years with the Giants making big plays and becoming a leader.