Jonathan Casillas looking forward to three weeks of reunions with former teams
Jonathan Casillas #54 of the New York Giants reacts after missing an interception against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The next three weeks of the Giants' schedule might as well be called the Jonathan Casillas Career Tour. The team and its first-year linebacker will face every team Casillas has ever played for in his career -- in order -- beginning with the Saints this week and followed by the Buccaneers and the Patriots.
"We might have to check that," Casillas told Newsday on Wednesday. "I might be the first person in NFL history to play all three of his former teams in chronological order. That's crazy."
Playing against old teams is nothing new for him or the majority of players in the league. Casillas has faced the Saints twice since he last played for them in 2012. But this trifecta grabbed his attention as soon as the schedule was announced in the spring.
Casillas said he has fond memories of his time in New Orleans, particularly his rookie season when he helped the Saints win a Super Bowl. He does not hold any grudges.
"I take it for what it is," he said. "I know it's a business. Sean Peyton, Joe Vitt, those are great men and great coaches. Sean has had a lot of success in his career and Joe Vitt, he's one of those guys who takes a younger guy like myself under his wing and gave me a hard time, but it was all out of love."
Casillas signed with the Buccaneers in 2013 and was traded to the Patriots early last season in time for their run to a Super Bowl championship.
Playing against a former team can be fun, but also exhausting. There are a lot of emotions involved. Wide receiver Dwayne Harris just went through that last week when he faced his old team, the Cowboys.
"It's definitely exciting," Harris said. "It's like playing against your brothers, which is fun. It brings out that energy in every game. When you play against somebody you know, you always want to win just for bragging rights. If you lose, you have to hear about it all the way to the next year."
There aren't many players left on the Saints roster from Casillas' time there, and the ones who have remained are largely on offense and the coaching staff. As this three-week stretch progresses, though, the number of familiar faces and friends will increase.
"I'm excited about it," he said. "You always have a little extra, a little something when you play an old team."
If that's the case, it could be a good month for Casillas.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
