Antrel Rolle Exclusive: The Giants, Young Stars, and Super Bowl Redemption

Three-time Pro Bowl defensive back Antrel Rolle isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on today’s NFL. In this Hard Rock Bet exclusive interview, the former New York Giants star breaks down the team’s future under John Harbaugh, evaluates rising talents like Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter, and weighs in on top NFL Draft prospects including Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr.

Rolle also reflects on his own career — from unforgettable Super Bowl moments to the Hall of Fame debate surrounding Eli Manning and Bill Belichick — offering insight only a veteran defensive leader can provide.

The Giants and NFL Draft prospects

The Giants are entering a new era, and Antrel Rolle has strong opinions on where the franchise stands. We opened the conversation by discussing the hiring of John Harbaugh and the team’s young core.

Rolle also breaks down rising NFL Draft prospects Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain Jr., while assessing Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter, and the outlook for the Giants’ roster heading into next season.

How excited should New York Giants fans be about the hiring of John Harbaugh? What was your reaction?

Firstly, I was thrown off by the fact that the Baltimore Ravens let him go. That was the biggest shock for me, and I think for everyone else too.

He is a legend as a coach, and I know he is a players’ coach. I know players were very fond of him with the Ravens throughout his tenure there. So, the Giants have someone who has the experience of building a team to fit his stature and style. That’s something they’ve been missing.

That’s not to say anything bad about Brian Daboll. I think Daboll is a good coach, but this is the way the NFL is. If you lose, it’s next man up. That’s just the way the business works.

What challenges does a quarterback like Jaxson Dart present to defenses?

I think the biggest threat he had going for him last season was the fact that no one had any film on him. As a former defender, that’s one of the hardest things to gauge because if you don’t have the film, you can’t really understand or know a guy’s tendencies just yet.

I think his biggest asset is his confidence and his swagger. That can take you over hills and mountains if you allow it. Obviously, there’s going to be more emphasis on the physical and mental aspects of the game going forward, which he has to endure and master. But that will take time. It won’t happen overnight.

Hopefully, Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo will be returning healthy. If they can surround him with a little bit more help, then I think with these weapons, and the addition of John Harbaugh and his staff, Dart will be a promising guy to watch in the near future.

Dart has taken some criticism for taking too many big hits. As a former defender, when you see the quarterback running in the open field, do you try to hit a little harder, or is your focus still on the ball?

Back in the day, when we saw a quarterback running with the ball, it was like smelling blood in the water. We could lay a good licking on those guys back then. Now the rules have changed, and things are a lot more watered down, with quarterbacks being protected a lot more.

For defenders now, they have to be smart about their target points while also thinking about whether the quarterback is going to slide or not. So, the defender’s best bet is to just tag them off. If he’s within reach and in bounds, it’s fair game.

For Dart, if he wants to further his career and make it last as long as possible, he definitely needs to limit the number of hits he takes.

Now, I understand he’s a tough guy, and certain things he does can affect the team’s mindset. When you see your quarterback going for that extra yard or taking that pounding, we love it. It gets us fired up.

But is it the smartest thing to do over and over again? Maybe not. There is a time and place for it. I always say that I loved watching playoff Eli Manning because I felt like you got a different player and a different level of toughness once it was the postseason.

Another Giants rookie, Abdul Carter, had high expectations coming out of Penn State. How would you assess his rookie season?

I think he had a good rookie season. I wouldn’t say it was a great season, but that’s why it’s a rookie season.

You’re going to have some rookies who can stand out, and you can see the talent they possess right off the bat. For example, Micah Parsons was a force to be reckoned with as soon as he came into the league. Guys like Myles Garrett and J.J. Watt, too. Those guys were a different breed.

That’s not to say Carter isn’t that caliber of player or that he won’t become that caliber of player, but sometimes it takes a little time to figure certain things out. It can be about schemes. It can also just be about the ins and outs of the NFL.

Listen, this is the best of the best, so it’s not going to be a cakewalk. It doesn’t matter how good you were at the collegiate level. Now you’re up with the big boys, and it might take some time to adjust.

I think he’s a very promising player who will have a very good future with the Giants.

New Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will have a front seven featuring Carter, Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Bobby Okereke, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Darius Alexander. What are your expectations for this group?

As far as my expectations, I think they can be elite. I tell people all the time, you can have a great secondary with guys who can break on the ball and get interceptions, but you’re nothing without that front seven. That’s the way football works. That’s the way defense works.

In terms of that Giants front seven, I think that once those guys gel a bit more and spend a little more time with each other to understand the ins and outs, the sky is the limit. They wouldn’t be there if they weren’t capable of being a dynamic front seven.

Defensive schematics also play a huge part in it. You have to know your defense and know the players’ strengths and weaknesses. You also need to know what positions and situations to put certain players in.

In order to improve next year, what areas should the Giants focus on in the offseason?

I would just say overall playmaking ability. When you’re talking about the skill position players, we saw this year that once Nabers went down, it was a pretty big hit to the offense. Then, when Skattebo went down, it was another huge hit.

So, I think they should focus on the running back and wide receiver positions to surround their young quarterback with as much talent as possible. I would also love to see them get another dynamic tight end.

If you can solidify those positions, then combined with the talent already on defense, I think you’re looking at a promising first season under John Harbaugh.

How impressive is Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr.? How excited are you to see him play at the next level?

In my opinion, Rueben Bain Jr. had a great season. In fact, I would probably say it was a phenomenal season. The reason I say phenomenal is that you can go out there and make certain plays against certain opponents. But when you go out there and make the biggest plays against the biggest opponents, now you’re raising the level.

He was a guy who was never up and down. His performances were always on the up and up, whether it was him getting pressure, getting sacks, or just wreaking havoc.

I think he has a very promising future. His motor is undeniable. I think his passion for the game and the fact that he’s a great human being play a huge part, too. People don’t give this side of it enough credit. We’re athletes, and yes, we’re out here to perform in this spectator sport, but what type of human being are you? For me, that always weighs a lot because you’re talking about potentially being a franchise player or the leader of an organization.

You’re going to need those people skills. It’s great to be dynamic on the field, but are you going to be dynamic off the field as well? Are you going to be approachable? Are you going to sign autographs for the kids? Things of that nature.

When I look at Rueben Bain Jr., I see him as that guy, both on and off the field.

Ohio State star Caleb Downs is one of the top-rated players in this year’s NFL Draft. What do you like about his game?

Caleb Downs is a playmaker, man. He’s an all-around safety. He can play in the box, but he can also go back deep. He’s a guy you can tell is a student of the game. When you’re a student of the game, it doesn’t matter if you run a 4.3, 4.4, or a 4.6, your level of play on the field is going to seem so much faster than the average guy.

There may be defensive backs who run a faster time, but they won’t play as fast as Caleb does on the field. I was one of those guys who ran a 4.4 when other guys ran 4.2 or 4.3 in their sleep, but they didn’t play faster on the field because I was able to think, process, and move at the same time. Downs is like this as well.

He’s going to have a very promising NFL career, and I’m looking forward to watching him play.

Familiar faces and Hall of Fame snubs

Antrel Rolle doesn’t hold back when it comes to familiar names and controversial decisions around the league. He reflects on Vic Fangio’s defensive brilliance and weighs in on the Hall of Fame debate surrounding Eli Manning and Bill Belichick.

Rolle also shares his thoughts on Daniel Jones’ future, offering a candid assessment of second chances, system fits, and what quarterbacks need to prove in today’s NFL.

During your time with the Bears, Vic Fangio was your defensive coordinator. He just announced he’s returning to the Eagles—how important has he been to the success of the defenses he’s led, and what makes him so effective?

Vic Fangio is a guy who knows his ball. Obviously, all defensive coordinators know their ball, but he’s a guy who is extremely dialed in.

I played under him for one year in Chicago, and just the way he processed certain things and saw certain things was different. Most importantly, he knew how to put guys in positions to make plays. His résumé speaks for itself.

I saw his San Francisco 49ers defense when I played on the opposite team. They had some weapons, and they were so physical. The defensive schemes he would create with those guys were great to watch from the bench.

I was watching those guys on the other side. They were stacked. They had Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Donte Whitner, Dashon Goldson, and Carlos Rogers. They were loaded, and it seemed that for each one of those guys, Fangio found a scheme to fit their strengths.

That’s why when you talk about a guy like Vic Fangio, it’s clear that he’s a man of many talents.

Bill Belichick recently didn’t receive enough votes to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. A former teammate of yours in Eli Manning missed out for a second time too. What do you think about this, and does the whole voting process need revamping?

Both of those decisions were absurd.

When you talk about Eli Manning, you’re talking about a guy who beat the greatest quarterback ever, Tom Brady, twice in the Super Bowl. That speaks volumes. He had a great career. He can lead his team, and he doesn’t fold under pressure. How did he get snubbed twice? It baffles me.

When you talk about Bill Belichick missing out, it’s like, “Are we serious right now?”

He’s the best to ever coach in the NFL, and I don’t see anyone surpassing him anytime soon. Andy Reid may have a chance, but right now Belichick is that guy.

I’m not sure what the voting entails right now, but something needs to be changed. People who are more in tune and more involved with the game and its dynamics probably need to have a little more say-so, because you’re letting these writers and other people vote. They can either like you or not like you. And we know what this leads to. There are certain guys who are in there who shouldn’t be, and there are certain guys who are not in there who should be.

I get that it can be subjective. But to say that those two guys, Eli and Belichick, are not first-ballot Hall of Famers is absurd to me.

Former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is set to be a free agent. Prior to his season-ending injury, was he proving a lot of critics wrong with his play for the Indianapolis Colts? Does he deserve a long-term deal?

Long-term deal? No. Another chance to prove himself after his injury? Absolutely.

Sometimes systems make quarterbacks. Not every quarterback or player is built for a certain system. For example, you have Sam Darnold, who played for multiple teams and didn’t look like he was going to be that franchise quarterback. He played great last year in Minnesota. Now he’s playing lights out in Seattle.

When it comes to Daniel Jones, am I sold? No, I’m not sold yet. But I’m sold on the fact that he deserves another opportunity. He showed he could step in and lead a team.

So, no to a long-term deal, in my opinion, especially since he is coming off a serious Achilles injury. But he deserves a chance to prove himself, absolutely.

Reflection, Super Bowl redemption, and the Hard Rock Bet Party

As the conversation turns more personal, Antrel Rolle reflects on his own legacy and the moments that defined his career. The Super Bowl XLVI champion discusses versatility in today’s NFL, the offensive stars he’d least want to face, and his stance on an 18-game season.

Rolle also revisits the highs and heartbreak of his Super Bowl history — from the Santonio Holmes catch to redemption against the Patriots — before sharing what it meant to reunite with former teammates at the Hard Rock Bet Party.

You were known as a very versatile defensive back during your career. Is there a defensive back in today’s game that reminds you of yourself?

In today’s game, that’s tough.

When I look at my game, I see Charles Woodson, Malcolm Jenkins, and Tyrann Mathieu. Those guys had similar games to me—guys that I like to call super-hybrids.

You can go and play in the box. You can play deep in the post. You can lock in on the best receiver, man-to-man. You can guard slot guys man-to-man and guard guys like Wes Welker who have the potential to give you hell. Those are what I like to call super-hybrids. There aren’t many of those who have played in the NFL since I’ve been watching.

In today’s game, I really can’t say that I’ve seen someone who possesses all of that.

If you were playing today, which current offensive player would cause you the most concern in the lead-up to a game?

Jahmyr Gibbs. He’s electrifying. He has a different gear, and he has a different pattern to his game. He is the type of player I love to watch. His career is just getting started.

As far as receivers, there are a couple I really like. I like Ja’Marr Chase because of his grit and passion. I think he’s a dog. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a special talent. I love to watch his game. He does it so smoothly, with a lot of finesse.

The league is currently filled with guys who possess the ability to expose a defense.

There has been talk recently about an 18-game season being implemented in the future. As a former player, where do you stand on this?

Negative. I’m not a fan of the 18-game season at all.

I think they were pushing the envelope already by going to 17 games from 16. It’s a lot for your body to take. For those guys who play and have played, they’ll understand why it would be a bad move.

You had an incredible view of two of the most impactful passes in modern Super Bowl history. One was caught by Santonio Holmes, and one was dropped by Wes Welker. What was it like coming up short because of the Holmes catch to then get a redemption years later on the Welker drop?

The Santonio Holmes catch — I feel like to this day, it’s still a questionable call. But because of the competitor and athlete that I am, and as much as it hurts me to say, I think they had to give him that call.

Can you say it was definitely not a catch? No, and you also can’t definitely say it was a catch. But because of the effort that went into it and what the moment entailed, you have to give him the call. He had a phenomenal last drive, so it was well-earned and deserved on his part.

They had run that same play on the opposite side of the field. They came right back to it on the other side. That play still haunts me to this day, but the bittersweet part about it is that I was able to get redemption when I won with the Giants. If I wasn’t able to get that redemption, it would be a very tough pill to swallow.

When it comes to the Wes Welker play, that was the only play during that game where we in the secondary had busted coverage. We had some guys playing Cover 2, some guys playing Cover 3, and if there was ever a time or moment for him to make a play, it would have been that play.

It was thrown to the back shoulder, and he really had to twist his body around to make the catch, so it wasn’t easy. But I think he makes that catch eight times out of 10. I’m just glad it was a rare drop on his part on that occasion.

What was it like filming the Hard Rock Bet Party with so many of your former teammates?

Dealing with Hard Rock is always awesome, and I love being a part of it. Obviously, getting back with those guys, sharing memories, and just being in that atmosphere is always a great feeling. We have a brotherhood that is undeniable.

I don’t think there are too many other colleges where former players get together like that. It just shows the type of bond that we have. For us to be part of it at the Hard Rock Bet Party, it’s amazing.