Mathias Kiwanuka appreciation thread

You were a great player and better citizen part of two championship teams.

You did whatever the team asked of you, you were a true professional.

Good luck.

Thanks for giving your all, no matter where the coaches placed you!

total team player and a class act. You represented NYG well and you are a 2 time world champ! Good luck 94!

All the way.

Best of luck.

Thanks for doing a lot of good things here.

Always a favorite of my kids and mine. Best of luck on what's next, KIWI!

and look up to. Tons of class unlike too many fans who follow his team.

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A class act at all times, and a standout when healthy. The first game in the new stadium offered a glimpse of the monster that might have been.

I always wanted him to get to that level but he never did. I think the way we moved him around so much kind of hurt his progression.

But great guy and definitely someone who I'd buy a beer for if I saw him out. He's a Giant for life in my book.

thanks to the LB shuffle and, later, the injuries, but he never complained and did whatever they asked of him.

good guy from all accounts too.

Best of luck!

Best of luck in the future! Once a Giant Always A Giant!

Thanks Kiwi

Somehow, "good soldier" comes to mind when I hear his name. Quiet, played well enough. Really thought he was headed up after 2013 when he barely missed a sack quite a few times. But, alas, father time has his way with all of us.

Good luck in your next adventure!!!

Thanks for all you accomplished here. A truly class guy who never complained about being moved from position to position. Glad you have two rings, you deserve them.

and well done by you Kiwi. Thanks for all you did for the team and its fans.

Enjoy the rings...you earned them!

Giant. Forever a champion. Thanks for the effort and the memories Mathias.

who put aside his individual numbers for the greater good of the team. He could have bitched about being moved from DE to LB every year stunting his development, but he never did so. Class act in my book.

is deeply appreciated.

Given your character, class, and intelligence there is no doubt you will be successful in whatever direction you now turn.

you got a lot of flak sometimes on this board but you were one of the ultimate team players on 2 Super Bowl teams and sacrificed your natural position as a DE at times for ultimate team success.

And Kiwi in his earlier career was a damned good player against the run. His 2008 season was exceptional with Strahan retired and Osi hurt

he was still a good player and solid guy on 2 title teams. He was a true Giant.

I appreciate your dedication and commitment to excellence. You are a two time World Champion. Well done. Good luck in the future!

You are a class act and a pro. Good Luck!

and for making Sundays more fun. TWO TIME CHAMPION !!!!

Once a Giant.. Always a Giant..

I love to root for with the Giants. In the finest tradition of the likes of George Martin and Harry Carson. Represent the team with class and dignity. Thanks.

of pure selflessness. The personification of Team First.

You will be missed.

thank you for your exemplary service to Big Blue - You are a true Giant!

always handled himself with the utmost professionalism. He was an ideal role model.

as a coach when he accepts that it is over....

True professional athlete and solid example of a Giants player. Best of luck in your future ventures.

You were the epitome of a good soldier and team player.

you for all you did for the Giants, especially helping us win two SBs. You always handled yourself with the utmost professionalism and class on and off the field. Best wishes.

Best to you and yours in all of your future endeavors.

You are a Giant.

class, character, respect. When your name is mentioned in 20 years from now it will bring the same smile you get when you mention George Martin
Leonard Marshall Harry Carson even a Sam Madison

Selfless, team first, leader, classy player. Always a Giant!

It was a pleasure having you on the Giants. I think my favorite play of yours is the coverage of Randy Moss in the 07 regular season finale. So many more beautiful moments to follow. Class act. Exemplary citizen. Well spoken in press conferences. Just a super teammate . Good Luck with everything.

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Always a professional and never caused any problems. A true team player.

many players with Kiwi's selflessness.

Good luck in the future and I really appreciate your contributions.

You helped define what it means to be a true Giant.

in exchange for two trophies! Selflessness at its' finest

You will be missed.You only ever brought credit to a Giant uniform, and the city you represented.You made us all look better.Thank you, be well, god bless you and yours.

He was a class act in those days, too - the entire campus thought the world of him. I was thrilled when we drafted him, though I was worried if he would get lost in the shuffle behind all those great DEs. He managed to carve out a nice career for himself and grab a couple of rings along the way. I thought his best game was the NFC title game at Candlestick. He was a real force against the run and pass that day. Indy is his hometown, too, so I was happy to see him play a Super Bowl there, especially after being injured for SB42. A real man's man.

He'd be a natural in the broadcast booth, but I wonder if he'll seek a position with the NFLPA. He's been vocal during past negotiations and is certainly intelligent enough to make a difference.

Thanks, and I wish theyd left you at DE.

Glad he was a Giant. No doubt he will be successful in whatever he choses to do next.

and a team-first, selfless player. Kiwi will be missed, but not forgotten.

Thanks and good luck to you!!

You always gave it your best and were a team first guy.

Thank you Mathias Kiwanuka. You're team first, unselfish ways are a testament to your character. One of my favorite Giants and always thought you would have made an excellent team captain. I'd hate to see you in another uniform so I selfishly wish you retire but I wish you the best success in the future to you and your family. Thank you for being an exemplary athlete and class act.

You will always be appreciated for giving your all for the team.

‏@TomRock_Newsday
It's so hard to write these release stories without them feeling like an obit. Kiwi is 31. Has a lot of life and opportunity ahead of him.

I would be very surprised if he did not end up on the NFL Network, ESPN or FOX.

Moving you to linebacker may have made sense to some, but in my opinion it was an act of desperation driven by management's inability to draft a decent linebacker. It hurt your career and I don't think it helped the Giants all that much.

1. but he played on 2 SB teams

2. never had a negative word to say

3. was moved around to different positions without a single gripe

4. was a great teammate

the worst thing he did for me was not tackle vince young

Kiwi!

how his career would have gone if he just stayed at DE. Anyway, a nice contributor to 2 SB teams. Was real happy for him in '11 because he had missed the playoffs in '07.

two-time champion, consummate pro. Once a Giant always a Giant!

Good dude who always did what was asked of him. I will forever wonder how his career might have played out if they had stuck him at DE.

Great career ...... but could have been better for him.....if he was more a me vs team type of guy.

Granted,
He was paid well for accepting those roles and lasted 9 years and enjoyed 2 championships

of key players in our recent rings. Now, I consider him the last of the proud warrior defenders who held the mighty Patriots to 31 points in two Super Bowls.

In your old age, sir, we will remember you with great admiration and gratitude.

the personification of team first. You played wherever the Giants asked you to, and without a gripe. Super Bowl champions are built on players like you. Giant fans will always honor you for your play and behavior. Thanks, and best of luck.

Thank you Kiwi, you are a selfless team player. Thank you for your contributions.

In comment 12151125 Randy in CT said:

Quote:

and look up to. Tons of class unlike too many fans who follow his team.

Way to take a thread appreciating Kiwi and piss on it by slamming fellow fans.

team player. Played whatever role was needed. All the best.

Once a Giant always a Giant. Thanks Kiwi!

Kiwi did everything asked of him, and in some ways, he would have been probably been better off not playing ball that way. He played his ass off for us, put his body and career on the line, and did it all with class. Kiwi is the man!

than what's already here.

And then some.

Thank you, Kiwi.

the organization with dignity and class, the definition of a Giant. I get the the sense Kiwi can write his own ticket from this point forward.

throughout your career. And most importantly, thank you for helping bring home two championships.

In comment 12152042 Stufftherun said:

Quote:

the organization with dignity and class, the definition of a Giant. I get the the sense Kiwi can write his own ticket from this point forward.

+1

The ultimate team player on and off the field.

Feel sorry for him that we fki'd around with LB bs.

The game was not kind to U in many ways but U were a better teammate than many of us will truly understand, Thanks job well done.

We appreciate everything you gave to this organization! You are one of the few Giants my son was able to get an Autograph from and it was appreciated.
Best of luck in the next phase of your life.

Champ