LI's Greg Van Roten welcomes his second child — and a second season with Giants
Giants guard Greg Van Roten stretches during training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., on Monday. Credit: Ed Murray
Greg Van Roten was always going to be on the clock during Giants training camp. If the call came that his wife Trish was delivering their second child, he’d immediately leave to be with her.
That call came last week and the Van Rotens welcomed their second child and daughter, Anna. Greg missed three days of camp before returning Monday and he came back grateful for the newest member of his family.
“It’s always tough having a baby in-season, especially training camp,” Van Roten said Tuesday. “But it’s incredible to have another child and lucky to be close enough to home where we didn’t have to fly anywhere to deliver the baby.”
It’s partly why the 35-year-old offensive lineman and Chaminade High grad welcomed a second season with the Giants. Last season, he was the only player on the field for every offensive snap and one of two Giants to start every game along with Brian Burns.
Van Roten also played the last two games at center after starting the previous 15 at right guard. That stability and flexibility were two reasons the front office re-signed him to a one-year deal.
“He’s a veteran that’s played this game for a long time that’s smart, that communicates well,” coach Brian Daboll said. “[Someone] that both guys on either side of him have a lot of confidence in because of his intelligence and his instincts and his ability to communicate when thing happen quickly.”
Van Roten has taken the majority of first-team snaps at right guard in camp but he’s yielded a few to Evan Neal. Neal switched from tackle to guard this offseason and the former first-round pick slid in for Van Roten for first-team reps during his absence.
The competition might not be as stiff like as Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott vying the second starting cornerback spot opposite Paulson Adebo. Yet the Giants are seemingly giving Neal a chance to compete for the starting job after declining his fifth-year option this offseason.
Van Roten understands how tough that can be. He played tackle in college at Penn before moving to guard during his rookie year with the Packers.
“It’s not easy to move inside, especially at this level, but (Evan’s) taken it in stride,” Van Roten said. “He’s trying to learn every day and work on his technique and improve. I’m sure he’s been humbled. This is not what he thought his career was going to be at this point but sometimes it takes a while for guys to get going.”
Van Roten has seen that happen in his career. After going undrafted and making the Packers roster in 2012, he didn’t start an NFL game until six years later at left guard with the Panthers. He also switched to right guard during his two-year stint with the Jets (2020-21).
For Neal, there will be growing pains and mistakes but Van Roten noted the key is to avoid repeating them. He also thinks Neal could find a way to thrive at guard given his size and strength.
“I think he could have a bright future if he just keeps embrace, working and trying to figure it out,” Van Roten said.
It’s similar to how Van Roten is embracing the journey of raising two kids now. There was a special moment when his first daughter Nora briefly held Anna before passing her back.
At 19 months old, Nora didn’t fully understand what was going on. Yet it reminded Van Roten how fatherhood changed him to be less self-centered. Having a second child made him appreciate not just his growth but those around to help him and his wife handle the challenges.
It’s given him a sharper focus entering his 11th season not just for himself, but how to continue being a better father and husband.
“I guess I didn’t realize how selfish I was in my time, then you have a baby and it’s just really about supporting your wife and helping raise a child,” Van Roten said. “Then to have another kid, add that to the mix, it gets a lot crazier. It’s a lot harder so far but we have a great support group and network.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
