Niko Lalos

Originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Giants on April 28, 2020…Waived by the Giants on Sept. 5, 2020 and signed to the team's practice squad on Sept. 6, 2020… Activated off the practice squad on Nov. 29, 2020, reverted to practice squad on Nov. 30, 2020…Activated off the practice squad on Dec. 5, 2020. As a rookie in 2020, Lalos played in each of the season's final 6 games and totaled 5 tackles (2 solo), one interception and one fumble recovery.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Giants on April 28, 2020…Waived by the Giants on Sept. 5, 2020 and signed to the team's practice squad on Sept. 6, 2020… Activated off the practice squad on Nov. 29, 2020, reverted to practice squad on Nov. 30, 2020…Activated off the practice squad on Dec. 5, 2020.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• As a rookie in 2020, Lalos played in each of the season's final 6 games…Totaled 5 tackles (2 solo), one interception and one fumble recovery.
• Made his NFL debut at Cincinnati (11/29) a memorable one when he intercepted a Brandon Allen pass with 32 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter…His only previous interception was on Nov. 9, 2019, when he picked off a pass against Princeton and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown in Yankee Stadium…Lalos was the first Giants player to intercept a pass in his pro debut since Sept. 13, 2015, when middle linebacker Uani Unga picked off a Tony Romo pass in the 2nd quarter, setting up a Giants field goal
• Recorded his first 2 NFL tackles, both solo, at Seattle (12/6)…Also recovered a fumbled snap – officially credited to Russell Wilson – with 6:02 remaining in the 2nd quarter…Lalos was the first Giants player with at least one interception and one opponent fumble recovery in first 2 NFL games since Otto Schnellbacher in 1950.
• Assisted on one tackle in each of the next 3 games – vs. Arizona (12/13), vs. Cleveland (12/20) and at Baltimore (12/27).

COLLEGE

• Played in 24 games in 3 seasons for Dartmouth…Recorded 59 tackles (32 solo), including 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks…Lalos added 9 passes defensed, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery…In 2019, selected first-team All-Ivy League after posting career-high totals of 35 tackles (21 solo), 10 stops for loss and 5.5 sacks…Scored the first points of the game - and of his career - on a pick-6 in Yankee Stadium to pave the way for the 27-10 win over undefeated and 9th-ranked Princeton...As a junior in 2018, named All-Ivy League honorable mention…Tallied 17 tackles (10 solo) and was 2nd on the team and 5th in the league with 5.0 sacks…As a sophomore, had 6 tackles in 5 games.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:

• During the 2020 season, supported RISE in its mission to increase civic engagement by spreading the word about voter rights, registration and education in Staten Island, N.Y. through the Team of Teams initiative…With fellow rookies on Halloween, invited young patients from Hackensack University Medical Center to virtually meet and play games with the children…Represented RISE during the NFL's Week 13 My Cause My Cleats initiative.

PERSONAL:

• Chosen his team's MVP at the Hula Bowl after notching 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble…Native of Akron, Ohio, he attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, LeBron James' alma mater…As a senior, won the school's Ironman Award and was an AP Northeast Ohio Inland all-district pick…Tallied 56 tackles (39 solo), 10 tackles for a loss and 2 two interceptions…Caught 11 passes for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns…Team won state championships his first 2 years and went 50-7 over his 4 seasons…Also lettered 3 times in basketball…Earned taekwondo black belt at age 10.