Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Has played in 48 games with one start for Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City, Carolina and the Giants…Career totals include 14 receptions for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns and 9 rushing attempts for 73 yards…Has an 8.3-yard average on 66 punt returns, including a 79-yard touchdown and a 30.1-yard average on 16 kickoff returns, including a 100-yard score.

HONORS

• NFC Special Teams Player of the Week: 2024 Week 17

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Has played in 48 games with one start for Minnesota, Chicago, Kansas City, Carolina and the Giants…Career totals include 14 receptions for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns and 9 rushing attempts for 73 yards…Has an 8.3-yard average on 66 punt returns, including a 79-yard touchdown and a 30.1-yard average on 16 kickoff returns, including a 100-yard score.
• In his first season with the Giants in 2024, played in 15 games, primarily as a return specialist…Averaged 34.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns 7.9 yards on a team-high 27 punt returns. Made his Giants debut in Week 2 at Cleveland (9/22/24)
• Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after returning the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown vs. Indianapolis (12/29/24)...Recorded the second touchdown of his career and first on a kickoff return...It was the Giants' first kickoff return touchdown since 10/25/15 when Dwayne Harris scored on a runback against Dallas.
• In 2023, played 17 games for the Panthers...Caught 8 passes for 51 yards, rushed for 74 yards in 8 attempts, including 1 touchdown…Recorded 37 punt returns for an 8.7-yard average, including 1 score….His 37 punt returns tied for the NFL's highest total…Scored on a 79-yard punt return vs. Chicago (11/9/23)...At that time, his 79-yard punt return was tied for the 3rd-longest punt return for a touchdown in franchise history…Became the 7th Panthers player to return a punt for a touchdown.
• In 2022, appeared in eight games for the Bears and the Chiefs…Season totals include 1 reception for 15 yards and 1 kickoff return for 17 yards…Was on the practice squad for the Chiefs when they won Super Bowl LVII.
• In 2021, appeared in eight games for the Vikings…Recorded 5 receptions for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns…Also returned 4 kickoffs for 83 yards…Recorded his first career receiving touchdown in Week 15 against Chicago (12/20/21)…Posted a career-high 103 receiving yards in Week 18 against Chicago (1/9/22).

COLLEGE

• Spent four years at Iowa (2017-20)…Played in 44 games and totaled 110 receptions for 1,615 yards (14.7-yard avg.) and 13 touchdowns…Added 34 rushing attempts for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns and 53 kickoff returns for 1,520 yards (28.7-yard avg.) and 2 scores.
• As a senior in 2020, played in seven games and caught 25 passes for 345 yards (13.8-yard avg.) and 3 touchdowns…Added 7 rushing attempts for 54 yards and one score…Totaled 176 yards on 8 kickoff returns
• In 2019, played in all 13 games and registered 44 receptions for 722 yards (16.4-yard avg.) and 5 touchdowns…Added 11 rushing attempts for 108 rushing yards and averaged 29.6 yards and scored twice on 17 kickoff returns…In the Holiday Bowl vs. USC, he scored touchdowns via receiving, rushing and kickoff return...Became the second player in school history to accomplish that feat.
• In 2018, started in 12 games and produced 23 receptions for 361 yards (15.7-yard avg.) and 3 touchdowns, 9 rushing attempts for 71 yards…Averaged 29.5 yards on 24 kickoff returns for 707 kickoff return yards…His 29.5 yards per kickoff return and 707 kickoff return yards led the Big Ten.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY

• Partnered with the American Heart Association to encourage students to be active for 60 minutes a day while creating healthy habits and presented the school with a $1,500 equipment grant at Prospect Park Elementary School in Prospect Park, NJ.… Served as a coach during the Giants Women's Club Big Blue Challenge flag football fundraiser with 50 club members to support the American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer research… Represented Boys and Girls Club of Newark during Week 13 of the NFL season for My Cause My Cleats… After the team practice in Germany prior to the Sunday game, met with the 120 students that participated in the NFL Flag clinic… Met with members from the Wounded Warriors Project during their visit to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to watch practice and enjoy a day with the Giants.

PERSONAL

• Grew up in Newark, NJ and attended Weequahic High School, located just 15 miles from MetLife Stadium…Lettered in football.
• As a senior, played on offense, defense and special teams…Across 12 games, rushed for 60 yards on 8 carries…Recorded 38 receptions for 773 yards (20.3 yard-avg) and 13 touchdowns…Tallied 43 tackles, 6 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 1 tackle for loss…Returned 4 kickoffs for 192 yards (48.0-yard avg.) and a long runback of 95 yards…Posted a 24.6-yard average on 8 punt returns for 389 yards…Helped Weequahic achieve a 12-0 record and a state title in 2016.
• As a junior, caught 5 receptions for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns along with 1 punt return touchdown and 1 interception return for a touchdown…Also lettered in track and competed in hurdle events.

MAIN TRANSACTIONS

• Originally a 5th-round pick (157 overall) draft choice by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.
• Waived by the Vikings on 8/31/22…Awarded off waivers by the Chicago Bears on 9/1/22.
• Waived by the Bears on 10/18/22.
• Signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on 10/20/22.
• Traded to the Carolina Panthers for a swap of 2025 7th-round picks on 8/29/23.
• Waived by the Panthers on 8/28/24.
• Signed as a free agent by the Giants on 9/9/24.