Talk Like a Pirate Day falls on Sept. 19, 2025.
Playing like a pirate is now a daily aspiration for the New York Giants' defenders.
Thus, whenever defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's squad has tallied a takeaway during organized team activities, the Giants have celebrated by tucking their newfound prize into a treasure chest.
It's a novel approach for a DC looking to improve from a 2024 showing in which Big Blue mustered just 15 takeaways -- 28th in the NFL.
"You'll hear our guys say it. I say it ad nauseum: 'Be a damn pirate,'" Bowen said Thursday, via team transcript. "We got to find ways to get the ball. And, again, you get what you emphasize. We're making it a priority this year to make sure we find ways to get the ball."
New York was 24th in total defense during a trying 3-14 campaign. Scrounging for 0.9 takeaways per game with a 31st-ranked five interceptions hardly helped matters.
Bowen and the Giants are hoping the addition of No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, along with the signings of defensive backs Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland, among others, will help remedy those ugly numbers. The return of a healthy Dexter Lawrence should also be a boon.
"We've got to be better forcing takeaways," Bowen said. "Got to get the ball away. Twelve of the 14 playoff teams were in the top half of the league taking the ball away.
"We got to do better job of that, making sure we don't miss opportunities to catch them when they're there, don't miss opportunities to try to attack the ball when they're there, matching the hand, whatever that might be. That's a big area of focus for us right now."
Having his defense play or talk or celebrate like pirates is certainly gimmicky, but coming off such hardships as seen last year, Bowen's seemingly up for anything.
It would also seem as though he could be on the hot seat, but he said he's not worried about job security.
"I wouldn't say pressure," Bowen said. "I'm driven by the guys. My job is to get these guys ready to go out there to execute at the highest level, to maximize their potential, and to perform and ultimately win."
Generating turnovers would certainly be a step in the winning direction.
If the Giants prove successful on their treasure hunt, Bowen will have his son to thank. That's where the whole idea of the treasure chest came from, according to the DC.
"Oh, the chest," Bowen said. "So, my son, it's his first year of T-ball and he's on the Pirates. So, we -- again, the main thing is emphasizing takeaways. We got to get better at takeaways. Somehow got the idea of piracy, violent, attacking to steal possessions or goods, right?"
Thus, the Giants are sailing forth for the 2025 seas, looking for turnover fortune and takeaway treasure by way of attacking, stealing and playing like damn pirates.
