New York Giants coaches, players surprise support staff with holiday bonuses totaling $300,000
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge, his coaching staff and players surprised members within the organization with bonuses Tuesday totaling $300,000.
The holiday gift was spread among 70 members of the team's support staff including equipment managers, nutritionists, cafeteria workers and the public relations and video departments.
According to the Daily News, the highest Christmas bonus given to employees prior to Judge's hire was $80,000 in 2019 to 30 staff members.
Last year, Judge and his players raised $200,000 for 70 employees.
“The number’s astronomically high. It’s the highest it’s been on any team I’ve ever been on in my career,” team captain Logan Ryan told the Daily News. “And it’s helping a lot of people out, people who have kids, who are dealing with the stresses of OVID or whatever it may be.”
Judge hand-delivered the bonuses to the cafeteria staff.
“To see Coach Judge walking into the kitchen, everyone was like, ‘Oh, what’s going on?’” executive chef Angelo Basilone, told the Daily News.“ He shook my hand, thanked me, told me to thank my staff, and asked me to distribute it to everybody. He was grateful for all the hard work that we put in.”
The bonuses averaged $4,285 per employee.
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“One of our employee’s basements flooded when we had that big storm back in October,” Basilone said. “We have two employees with brand new babies. It goes a long way for a lot of them. It really does mean a lot. We watch every snap. We are humbled to be part of the team, lucky to be part of the organization. And to know they consider us part of the family is great.
"It’s a long season for everybody from training camp to now. The first person [working in the kitchen] walks through the door at 5 a.m. and the last person leaves around 7:30-8 o’clock. For (Judge) to realize and recognize we’re putting in the long hours and being there for them is great.”
The Giants (4-10) will take on the Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.
