John Michael Schmitz

Playing in his fourth season, Schmitz Jr. has played in 45 games and started 44 games at center.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Playing in his fourth season, Schmitz Jr. has played in 45 games and started 44 games at center.
• Started at center in 13 games for the Giants in 2025…Helped lead a Giants rushing attack that ranked among the top five in the NFL in first downs (141, fourth), rushing touchdowns (22, tied for fourth), rushing yards (2,195, fifth) and runs of 10+ yards (59, fifth)…The Giants' 22 rushing scores were the third-most in single-season franchise history.
• In 2024, started each of the first 15 games at center…Inactive for the season's final two games with an ankle injury.
• As a rookie in 2023, started all 13 games in which he played at center…Schmitz's 13 starts at center were the most by an NFL rookie in 2023…When Schmitz started vs. Dallas (9/10/23), he became the first rookie center to start a season opener for the Giants since Derek Engler in 1997.

COLLEGE

• Spent six seasons at Minnesota, a redshirt year in 2017 and five seasons on the field…Played in 57 games with 35 starts…Academic All-Big Ten in five consecutive seasons (2018-22)…Schmitz was the fifth Gopher ever to be both an All-American for his play on the field and an Academic All-American, joining Bob Hobert (1956), Bob Stein (1968), Greg Eslinger (2004, 2005), and Maxx Williams (2014).
• In 2022, started all 12 regular-season games at center…Opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl…Selected AP and FWAA first-team All-American.
• Voted first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media…In 2021, started all 13 games at center…Selected second-team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and third-team by the media…In the abbreviated 2020 season, started six games at center.
• In 2019, played in 13 games, including his first four career starts…Received the school's RTB Trust Award…Made his first career start at center vs. Nebraska and helped the Gophers rush for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns.
• As a redshirt freshman in 2018, played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams…Made his collegiate debut vs. New Mexico State…Redshirted in 2017.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY

• Helped honor the firefighters who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, with a visit to Engine 15, Ladder 18, Battalion 4 where they learned about the firefighters who passed away and spent time and shared a meal with firefighters...Visited the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge to spend time and share a meal with patients and their families…. Attended the American Eagle Food Panty of Northern N.J. to provide 150 Thanksgiving meals to veterans...Participated in Jingle Jam, where he helped spread holiday joy to more than 500 New Jersey foster children, spending time with them and assisting with gift distribution...Joined Jermaine Eluemunor for his annual holiday shopping spree to benefit children of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund...Attended The Giants Foundation Golf Classic which raised more than $500,000 for The Giants Foundation...Hosted members from the NYPD Military Liaison Group as well as members from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to watch practice and enjoy a day with the Giants.

PERSONAL

• Son of John and Deborah Schmitz…Married to Daniella…Has 2 older sisters (Gabrielle and Hannah) and one younger brother (Jack)…Graduated with a degree in sport management…Grew up on the South Side of Chicago.
• Initially attended Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, where he played defensive end on the freshman team…As a sophomore, Schmitz moved up to varsity and was a two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines…Seeking to play for a larger program, he transferred to Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Ill.…Started at left tackle his junior and senior seasons when the Vikings were 20-3 and averaged more than 40 points a game.
• As a senior, named IHSFCA 8A all-state and earned all-state honors from the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette and Chicago Tribune…Selected to the Southwestern Suburban all-conference team…Also lettered in wrestling.
• Originally committed to play for coach P.J. Fleck at Western Michigan…When Fleck was named the coach at Minnesota, Schmitz, who never visited the Minnesota campus but had a strong desire to play in the Big Ten, was one of several recruits to follow Fleck to Minneapolis.

MAIN TRANSACTIONS

• Originally a 2nd-round (57th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2023.