Justin Pugh might not be a household name even among NFL-crazed families, but the Giants’ offensive lineman, who was elevated from the practice squad before Sunday night’s game against the Bills, became the latest player to introduce himself to a Sunday Night Football (SNF) audience in a funny way.
Where is Giants left tackle Joshua Ezeudu from?
“North Carolina.”
Where is Pugh from?
“Straight off the couch,” he said with enthusiasm.
Pugh is far from the first player to have some fun with his introduction, but “straight off the couch” ranks pretty high among the best in no small part because of the self-awareness.
Pugh signed with the Giants on October 3 and was made active on Saturday. He moved into the starting lineup on Sunday due to several injuries on the team’s offensive line. While he told reporters after the game that he had “issues with the cadence” of the Giants’ plays, he enjoyed being part of the atmosphere despite the team’s 14-9 loss.
“I’ve never in my whole career been part of something like that,” Pugh said.
It was Pugh’s introduction, however, that drew the headlines and made us remember some classic Sunday (and Monday) Night Football introductions. Here are a few of our favorites from over the years.
Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
Matthew Judon
Introduction: “Body built by Taco Bell.”
Judon is notoriously pretty funny and, of course, very relatable. Who doesn’t love a $2 burrito at 1 a.m.?
Kris Jenkins Sr.
Introduction: “This jersey is too tight.”
Jenkins’ playing weight was 360 pounds, so fair enough. Jenkins’ son, Kris Jenkins Jr., is not a small football player either.
Dion Dawkins
Introduction: “You Already Shhhhnow University.”
Dawkins went to notorious center-of-the-football-universe…Temple.
Antwaan Randle El
Introduction: “Indiana University”
With Randle El, it wasn’t what he said, but how he said it: With the exaggerated cadence of a professional broadcaster.
Pat Angerer
Introduction: “The United State of Iowa.”
The pride of the city of Bettendorf, Iowa, represented his home state well.
Russell Okung
Introduction: “Russell Okung, Wakanda Tech”
Okung is not the only player to introduce himself from Wakanda in the wake of Marvel’s Black Panther, but we give him additional points for attending Wakanda’s technical institution rather than a state school like everyone else.
And finally, the ever iconic…
Tony Gonzalez
Introduction(s): “University of California” and “I’m Tony Gonzalez? University of California?”
Give Gonzalez credit for both his Scarface and Anchorman impressions, and make sure to never write anything disparaging about San Diego on Gonzalez’s teleprompter.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.