Justin Pugh
{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Justin Pugh
| image = Justin Pugh.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Pugh with the New York Giants in 2017
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|8|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Holland, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 311
| high_school = Council Rock (PA) South
| college = Syracuse (2009–2012)
| draftyear = 2013
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 19
| pastteams = * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2023}})
| status =
| highlights = * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2013)
- Second-team All-American (2012)
- 2× First-team All-Big East (2011, 2012)
- Second-team All-Big East (2010)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 132
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 131
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = PughJu00
}}
Justin David Pugh (born August 15, 1990) is an American professional football guard. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange. He was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Early life
Pugh attended Council Rock High School South in Holland, Pennsylvania. He was named to the 2008 Pennsylvania Football News All-State Second-team for defense. He earned all-area and All-Suburban One League First-team honors as a junior and senior and named second-team all-area as a defensive lineman as a senior. He was named 2008 team MVP and defensive player of the year as a team captain. As a sophomore, he earned second-team all-area honors as an offensive tackle.
College career
Pugh attended Syracuse University, where he played for the Syracuse Orange football team from 2009 to 2012. He started 34 games in his career, and earned All-Big East Conference honors in three consecutive seasons; second-team as a sophomore, and first-team as a junior and senior. Pugh entered the 2013 NFL draft with a year of college football eligibility remaining.{{cite web | last=Rahme | first=Dave | title=Syracuse football tackle Justin Pugh makes it official: He will take his game to the NFL early | website=syracuse | date=2013-01-04 | url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2013/01/syracuse_football_tackle_justi_1.html | access-date=2025-02-04}} Since he had already graduated, Pugh was cleared by the National Football League to compete in the 2013 Senior Bowl.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21583689/first-nonseniors-to-compete-in-senior-bowl|title=First non-seniors to compete in Senior Bowl|work=CBS Sports|date=January 19, 2013|access-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601054504/http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/21583689/first-nonseniors-to-compete-in-senior-bowl|archive-date=June 1, 2013}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/2
| weight = 307
| dash = 5.14
| ten split = 1.79
| twenty split = 2.98
| shuttle = 4.63
| cone drill = 7.45
| vertical = 28.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 7
| bench = 22
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/justin-pugh/32005055-4724-3645-b43d-c9bf6229b7dd |title=Justin Pugh Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=January 11, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=95923&DraftYear=2013 |title=Justin Pugh College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 28, 2013}}
}}
=New York Giants (first stint)=
==2013==
The New York Giants selected Pugh in the first round (19th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft.{{cite web|title=New York Giants draft Justin Pugh at No. 19|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap1000000164009/article/new-york-giants-draft-justin-pugh-at-no-19|website=NFL.com|date=April 26, 2013|access-date=July 18, 2018}} He was the fifth offensive tackle and seventh offensive linemen selected in 2013.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Pugh also became the highest player selected from Syracuse since Dwight Freeney in (first round, 11th overall) 2002 and the highest offensive linemen selected from Syracuse since Bob Fleck in 1954.{{cite web| title=Pro-Football Reference: Syracuse NFL Draft| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/syracuse/drafted.htm| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=Pro Football Reference}}
On July 25, 2013, the Giants signed Pugh to a four-year, $8.34 million contract that includes $7.96 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.44 million.{{cite web| title=Spotrac.com: Justin Pugh contract| url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-york-giants/justin-pugh-12299/| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=Spotrac.com}}
Throughout training camp, Pugh competed with incumbent starter David Diehl for the starting right tackle position.{{cite web| title=Previewing the Giants' Camp Battle Between David Diehl and Rookie Justin Pugh| url=https://www.bleacherreport.com/amp/1719841-previewing-the-giants-camp-battle-between-david-diehl-and-rookie-justin-pugh.amp.html| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=BleacherReport.com| author=Ted Vouyiouklakis| date=August 1, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Head coach Tom Coughlin named Pugh the starting right tackle to begin his rookie season.
He made his first career start and professional regular season debut in the Giants' season-opening 36–31 loss at the Dallas Cowboys. Pugh started the first half of the season poorly, but made significant improvement in the second half of the season. Out of 644 pass block snaps in 16 starts, Pugh allowed 43 hurries, gave up five sacks, and three hits.{{cite web| title=Rookies in Focus: Justin Pugh| url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/rookies-in-focus-justin-pugh| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=profootballfocus.com| author=Steve Palazzolo| date=April 8, 2014}} He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2013.htm |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
==2014==
Pugh entered the 2014 season slated as the incumbent starting right tackle after the retirement of David Diehl. He started 14 games at right tackle and missed weeks 12-13 after suffering a quad injury that plagued him for a part of the season. This was his first season under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo after the departure of Kevin Gilbride.{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Justin Pugh (2014)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/justinpugh/2540195/gamelogs?season=2014| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=NFL.com}}
==2015==
File:Bucs vs giants 2015.jpg in 2015.]]
Pugh entered training camp as the starting left guard after the New York Giants signed free agent Marshall Newhouse and named him the starting right tackle. The Giants originally drafted Pugh with the intention to have him play offensive guard, but decided to keep him at right tackle. They also stated that Pugh was better suited for guard under Ben McAdoo's offense.{{cite web| title=Justin Pugh: I'm staying at left guard| url=https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/justin-pugh-i-m-staying-at-left-guard-073015| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=FoxSports.com| date=July 30, 2015}} Pugh started 14 games throughout the season and missed two games (weeks 10/ and 12) due to a concussion.{{cite web|title=Giants give left tackle Ereck Flowers a vote of confidence|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/12/16/giants-give-left-tackle-ereck-flowers-a-vote-of-confidence/|author=Gantt, Darin|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=December 16, 2016}} He received high grades, played well throughout the season, and was ranked fifth among all offensive guards in performance grades (+12.5) through the first eight games.{{cite web| title=Giants' Justin Pugh Has No Beef, JPP Back In Blue| url=https://www.newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/10/29/giants-justin-pugh-has-no-beef-jpp-back-in-blue/amp/| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=NewYork.CBSlocal.com| date=October 29, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} By the end of the season he was ranked the ninth best offensive guard by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 86.7.{{cite web| title=Giants Have Had "Some Discussions" About Signing Justin Pugh & Weston Richburg To Extensions| url=http://nfltraderumors.co/giants-discussion-signing-justin-pugh-johnathan-hankins-extensions/| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=NFLtraderumors.com| author=Nate Bouda| date=July 31, 2016}}
==2016==
On April 26, 2016, the New York Giants chose to pick up the fifth-year, $8.82 million option on Pugh's rookie contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-pick-up-fifth-year-option-on-Justin-Pugh/622009fc-d229-4040-9b52-69d4885be1f6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160211/https://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-pick-up-fifth-year-option-on-Justin-Pugh/622009fc-d229-4040-9b52-69d4885be1f6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2018 |title=Giants pick up fifth-year option on Justin Pugh |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=April 26, 2016 |website=Giants.com |access-date=July 16, 2016}}
After a stellar season in 2015, Pugh was slated as the starting left guard entering training camp and was officially named the starter at the beginning of the season. Through the first nine games, he was ranked as the top offensive left guard in the league by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 87.8.{{cite web| title=Best player at every offensive line position this season| url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-2016-midseason-offensive-line-awards| access-date=January 11, 2018| website=profootballfocus.com| author=Sam Monson| date=November 9, 2016}} On November 9, 2016, he started at left guard during a 28–23 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, but left after suffering an injury to his leg. It was later discovered to be a sprained MCL and he missed the next five games (weeks 10-14).
==2017==
In 2017, Pugh started the first eight games before going down with a back injury. He missed the next five games before being placed on injured reserve on December 14, 2017.{{cite web|title=Giants to place OL Justin Pugh on IR|url=https://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-to-place-OL-Justin-Pugh-on-IR/d60d27eb-1118-4670-b295-f33a4c9d479f|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217022934/https://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Giants-to-place-OL-Justin-Pugh-on-IR/d60d27eb-1118-4670-b295-f33a4c9d479f|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2017|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=December 14, 2017}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On March 17, 2018, Pugh signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals.{{cite web|title=Justin Pugh signs $45M deal with Arizona Cardinals|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921902/article/justin-pugh-signing-45m-deal-with-arizona-cardinals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317161325/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921902/article/justin-pugh-signing-45m-deal-with-arizona-cardinals|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2018|author=Knoblauch, Austin|website=NFL.com|date=March 17, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Add-Justin-Pugh-To-Offensive-Line/354b5d4d-a30f-4f9f-8189-04efaf591447|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319063137/https://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Add-Justin-Pugh-To-Offensive-Line/354b5d4d-a30f-4f9f-8189-04efaf591447|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2018|title=Cardinals Add Justin Pugh To Offensive Line|work=AZCardinals.com|first= Darren |last=Urban |date=March 17, 2018}} He started seven games at right guard before suffering a knee injury in week 10. He was placed on injured reserve on November 13, 2018.{{cite web|title=Justin Pugh Done For Season After Knee Injury|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/justin-pugh-done-for-season-after-knee-injury|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=November 13, 2018}}
In 2019, Pugh started all 16 games, 14 at left guard and two at right tackle.
In week 6 of the 2022 season, Pugh suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve on October 20, 2022, ending his season.{{cite web|title=Justin Pugh, Marquise Brown To IR; Cody Ford Activated|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/justin-pugh-marquise-brown-to-ir-cory-ford-activated|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=October 20, 2022}}
=New York Giants (second stint)=
On October 3, 2023, Pugh was signed to the Giants' practice squad.{{cite web |last1=Eisen |first1=Michael |title=OL Justin Pugh reunites with Giants on practice squad |url=https://www.giants.com/news/justin-pugh-contract-roster-transaction-practice-squad-arizona-cardinals |website=New York Giants |access-date=4 October 2023}} He started his first game of the season against the Buffalo Bills on October 15.{{Cite news |last=Leonard |first=Pat |date=15 October 2023 |title=Justin Pugh starts at left guard for Giants vs. Bills in attempt to help offensive line stop the bleeding |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/10/15/justin-pugh-giants-offensive-line-bills-saquon-barkley/}}
On October 18, the Giants signed him to their active roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-sign-ol-justin-pugh-to-active-roster-te-lawrence-cager-waived|work=Giants.com|title=Giants sign OL Justin Pugh to active roster; TE Lawrence Cager waived|date=October 18, 2023|accessdate=October 18, 2023}}
Personal life
Pugh married Angela Viscount{{cite web |last1=Canavan |first1=Tom |title=Giants offensive lineman Justin Pugh tells the story behind his 'straight off the couch' intro |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/10/18/giants-offensive-lineman-justin-pugh-tells-the-story-behind-his-straight-off-the-couch-intro/71234916007/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=Gannett |access-date=20 October 2023}} in April 2022.{{cite web |last1=Awal |first1=Arati |title=Justin Pugh And Wife Angela Viscount Had A Lavish Wedding In Riviera Maya Mexico |url=https://sportslulu.com/justin-pugh-wife |website=sportslulu.com |publisher=Sportslulu |access-date=20 October 2023}}
In February 2015, Pugh appeared as a contestant on a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, winning $10,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children.{{cite web |last1=Mink |first1=Nate |title=Justin Pugh on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire': See the question that eliminated him |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2015/02/justin_pugh_on_who_wants_to_be_a_millionaire_see_the_question_that_eliminated_hi.html |website=syracuse.com |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC. |access-date=20 October 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130914175936/http://suathletics.syr.edu/roster.aspx?rp_id=9106 Syracuse Orange bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{2013 NFL Draft}}
{{GiantsFirstPick}}
{{Giants2013DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pugh, Justin}}
Category:Players of American football from Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Syracuse Orange football players