Deonte Banks

Has made 39 starts in 49 appearances…Totals include 165 tackles, 36 passes defensed, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, including 1 INT-TD, and 1 forced fumble...Has also returned 21 kickoffs for 659 yards (31.4 avg.) and 1 touchdown.

2026 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Logged 4 tackles. a career-high 4 passes defensed and the game-sealing interception, which he returned 98 yards for a touchdown, vs. Arizona in Week 4. The return was the fourth-longest in team history and the first interception return touchdown of his career.

HONORS

• NFC Defensive Player of the Week: 2026 Week 4

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Has made 39 starts in 49 appearances…Totals include 165 tackles, 36 passes defensed, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, including 1 INT-TD, and 1 forced fumble...Has also returned 21 kickoffs for 659 yards (31.4 avg.) and 1 touchdown.
• In his third season, played in 16 games (six starts) and produced 31 tackles, 5 passes defensed and 2 tackles for loss…Also returned 19 kickoffs for 622 yards (32.7 average) and 1 touchdown… At Las Vegas (12/28/25), logged 3 tackles, a season-high 2 passes defensed and 2 kickoff returns for 113 yards (56.5 avg.), including a 95-yard return for a touchdown, the first return touchdown of his career.
• In 2024, started all 14 games he played…Inactive for three games with a rib injury…Tallied 52 tackles (39 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 12 passes defensed.
• As a rookie in 2023, started all 15 games in which he played…Missed the final two games of the season due to a shoulder injury…Finished with 64 tackles (53 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 11 passes defensed, the latter figure tying Xavier McKinney for the team lead and were the most by a Giants rookie since Will Allen had 14 in 2001…Ranked 8th among all rookies with 64 total tackles.

NOTES TO KNOW

• Became the second Giant to begin their career with two straight seasons recording 10+ passes defensed, joining Will Allen (14 passes defensed in 2001 and 11 in 2002).
• Recorded 6 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble at Seattle (10/6/24) to become the first Giant since Terrell Thomas (vs. Jacksonville on 11/28/10) to total 3-plus passes defensed and 1 forced fumble in a game.

COLLEGE

• Played in 30 games with 21 starts in four seasons at Maryland…Career totals included 83 tackles (61 solo), a half-sack, 2 interceptions, 13 passes defensed and one blocked kick.
• As a senior in 2022, played in a career-high 12 games with eight starts…Opted out of the Duke's Mayo Bowl and decided to forego his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft…Selected honorable mention All-Big Ten…Tallied a career-best 38 tackles (25 solo) and 9 passes defensed, plus 1 interception and a half-sack…In 2021, started the season's first two games, vs. West Virginia (9/4) and Howard (9/11) before suffering season-ending torn labrum injury in the Howard game…Totaled 6 tackles (4 solo), including 5 stops (4 solo) vs. West Virginia.

PERSONAL

• Family science major…Prefers to be called "Tae"…Played cornerback and slotback at Edgewood (MD) High School…Played in the same backfield as his cousin, Antwain Banks… In his junior season, he recorded 41 tackles, 16 passes defended and 3 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns) and accounted for 1,052 total yards (674 rushing, 378 receiving) and 8 touchdowns (5 rushing, 3 receiving) on offense…As a senior, Banks earned all-state and all-county honors with 113 carries for 1,700 rushing yards (15.0-yard average) and 24 touchdowns…Defensively, he had 23 tackles, 9 passes defensed and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) as he led Edgewood to a 9-win season and an appearance in the 2018 playoffs.
• Also lettered in track and set several school records…Posted personal bests in the 100 meters (10.96), 200 meters (22.44), high jump (5 feet, 6 inches) and long jump (22 feet, 8 inches)…Received his first scholarship offer from Division II Seton Hill after his junior season followed by a few FCS offers (Delaware State, Elon, Monmouth) and FBS offers (Buffalo, Kent State)...When Maryland offered him the summer before his senior season, Banks committed two weeks later…Son of Jamal Banks and Laura Bethea.

MAIN TRANSACTIONS

• Originally a 1st-round (24th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2023.