New York Giants head coach Joe Judge is from the Philly area, and is making his head coaching debut on home turf on Thursday night – but he also has one of his players about to make a homecoming as well in defensive back Logan Ryan.
“Every time I play in Philly, every time I used to come back to Jersey and play at MetLife, it was a big deal for me,” Ryan said. “I knew I had family coming to the game. Fortunately I won’t be having any family come to this game. Honestly, eight years in, I’m happy about that because the tickets get carried away.”
Lincoln Financial Field will only have around 7,500 fans in attendance due to Philadelphia’s current COVID-19 regulations, so it was easy for Ryan to blow off any requests.
Still, having grown up in South Jersey, the former Eastern Regional High School and Rutgers star knows what this rivalry means to both sides, even if it’s his first taste of it on the pro level – and first game in Philly in that same capacity.
“I definitely have some family members that grew up Eagles fans. I understand the rivalry in this division, I grew up in it," Ryan said. "I grew up watching all these Giants-Eagles games. But I bleed blue right now, this is where I wake up early every day and put it on for them. My teammates support me, and the coaches support me. I’m bleeding blue all day for this one.”
And he hopes his family is, too.
"I’m excited to upset a lot of family and friends who may be watching. If they’re not on my side, they’re on the wrong side,” Ryan laughed.
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