Around this time last year, with the world in the thrall of a raging pandemic, Joe Judge still had a team to build. Virtual meetings were familiar, but they weren't second nature yet. The then-rookie head coach needed a solution.
To break the ice, he subdivided his team into groups. They played for prizes based on knowledge – not of the playbook, but of each other and their local surroundings.
There was nothing trivial about it.
"This team was the first team that reminded me of the college days, where everybody is buddies," linebacker Blake Martinez said recently during the Giants’ Town Hall session. "Everybody is having fun, everybody knows about each other. Just because we're so young and that's what everybody on our team is used to, it just made it simple to reach out to guys, to go have dinner with guys, go play video games during OTAs together, and just build a bond. Then when you stepped on the field, it was, oh, I'm playing with my best friend that I've known forever. That's just how I felt throughout the season."
As they found their groove, the Giants went 5-3 in the second half of the season – including a signature win in Seattle – and stayed in the running for the NFC East crown until the 256th and final game of a 2020 NFL season like no other.
Martinez, a newcomer himself from Green Bay, knew the Giants' success in November and December directly correlated to what they did in April and May - within that time, leaders emerged. He was one of them.
"The coaches allowed that nature to happen organically," said Martinez, who was elected a defensive co-captain by his teammates. "It wasn't just like, 'Hey, Blake, you have to say something.' They held us to a certain standard, and then at that point, certain guys were showing that standard and it started to become the majority. Then at that point, any guy that wasn't doing it felt like, 'Oh, I'm messing up, I need to pick it up, I need to do this.' Then other guys who were putting in that much work to make sure they were at that standard weren't going to let other guys around them not to reach that point and that level of play."
Martinez, who is the only player in the league with at least 140 tackles in each of the past four seasons (three were with the Packers), will likely have a few more players under his tutelage after this week. The Giants hold six picks in the upcoming draft, which begins Thursday night in Cleveland.
Five years ago, Martinez was in their position. He had just completed an illustrious career at Stanford, where he won three Pac-12 titles (2012, 2013, 2015) and played in three Rose Bowls (won two). But the Butkus Award semifinalist waited 130 picks before he heard his name called in the draft.
"It was a roller coaster ride, I'm not going to lie," the fourth-round pick said. "It was the ups and downs of 'OK, you're going to get drafted here, you're not getting drafted here, you might get drafted here, this team might like you, this team might like you.' Then as the draft went on, it was, 'Hey, we expected you to get drafted here.' And then as that time frame started to dwindle and I wasn't drafted, you started to get disappointed, upset. But then obviously once you get that draft moment happen, you celebrate with your family and just have an amazing day of achieving one of your lifelong goals."
Once he got drafted, then the real work began.
"It was definitely an eye-opening moment," Martinez said. "You get that opportunity to be drafted, but at that point, what are you going to make of that opportunity? Then when you step into that locker room for the first time -- especially in Green Bay, I was with Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, and the list goes on during that time – you're like, oh, wow. I need to step up my game that much more. I need to do something extra. I need to make it where all of a sudden, I get to that point when the season starts, I'm not a rookie. I'm a second-, third-year [player] mentally in a football game, understanding it so the guys around me can trust me when I do go out there on the field."
Martinez added: "I just remember [that first practice] seeming it was 10 days long. Nonstop you were doing things, nonstop your mind was racing of what am I doing on this play, what am I doing on this, where does my coach want me to be, how do I not get yelled at? Everything that possibly could go through your brain and then all of a sudden you see these guys just out there making it seem so seamless. You're like, OK, I need to work to get to that."
Now, the incoming rookies will say the same thing about him.
View photos of linebacker Blake Martinez in his first season with the Giants.
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) flexes during a week 17 regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 1 regular season Monday Night football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on September 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) makes a tackle during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium onOctober 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens (4) during a week 3 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on September 27h, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 3 regular season football game against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium on September 27h, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) tackles Dallas Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during a week 17 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) warms-up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on October 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) tackles Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during a week 17 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Blake Martinez (54) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) warms up before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) tackles Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during a week 17 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Blake Martinez (54) plays during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 1 regular season Monday Night football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on September 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during a week 17 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Blake Martinez reacts after a missed sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during a week 17 regular season football game at MetLife Stadium on January 3, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez looks on against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) stops a ball carrier during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 17-12. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a week 10 regular season football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 15th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) in action on defense against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 19-17. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New York Giants' Blake Martinez, left, stops Arizona Cardinals' Christian Kirk during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez is pictured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. The Giants won 17-12. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) plays the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Giants won 19-17. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) tackles Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. Rams won 17-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) reacts during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, Md. (Michael Owens via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) prepares for the snap during an NFL game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, MD. The Giants defeated Washington 23-20. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 37-34. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants' Blake Martinez warms-up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) makes a tackle during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 02, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Buccaneers beat the Giants 25-23. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) runs in pursuit during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Giants 17-13. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants' Kyler Fackrell (51), Tae Crowder (48) and Blake Martinez celebrate after Martinez recovered a Dallas Cowboys' Andy Dalton fumble in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 22-21. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez (54) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. Rams won 17-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday August 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Sunday August 16, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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New York Giants linebacker Blake Martinez (54) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 14, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
