He wasn't supposed to be here. Not in the backfield, at least. If you looked at Tyrone Tracy Jr. three years ago, you saw a wide receiver trying to find his footing in the Big Ten. Now? He's the guy keeping New York Giants fans from losing their minds every Sunday.
It’s weird how football works.
Most players spend their whole lives perfecting one craft. Tracy basically reinvented himself in a single summer at Purdue because his coaches realized he was "hard to bring down." That’s an understatement. After a 2024 rookie campaign where he notched nearly 900 rushing yards, Tracy entered 2025 as a focal point of a struggling offense. Honestly, he’s one of the few reasons people still tune into the G-Men.
The Receiver Who Became a Hammer
You can still see the wideout in him. It's in the way he plucks the ball out of the air—no "body catching" or awkward stumbling. In 2025, Tracy finished with 36 catches for 288 yards. Those aren't just "check-down" numbers; those are "we lined him up in the slot and he cooked a linebacker" numbers.
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But the real story is his efficiency on the ground.
While the Giants' offensive line has been, let's say, challenging, Tracy managed a 4.2 average on 176 carries in 2025. He’s not a bruiser like Rhamondre Stevenson. He’s different. He’s lateral explosiveness and "make-you-miss" in a bottle.
What Actually Happened in 2025?
The season was a rollercoaster. Early on, it looked like rookie Cam Skattebo might steal the show, especially after Skattebo established himself as the lead back through the first two months. Then the injury bug bit. Skattebo went down with a dislocated ankle in Week 8, and the keys were handed back to Tracy.
He didn't blink.
- Week 14 vs. Washington: 15 carries, 70 yards, and a crucial touchdown.
- Week 18 vs. Dallas: A monster performance. 103 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards.
- Season Totals: 740 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, plus two through the air.
He’s basically become the Giants' Swiss Army knife. If you need a third-down conversion, you throw it to him. If you’re backed up on your own 5-yard line, you give him the rock and hope he finds a seam.
The Contact Balance Nobody Talks About
People obsess over 40 times. They love talking about "straight-line speed." Tracy has that (he tested as an elite athlete at the Combine), but his real gift is balance.
Think about it. He spent years running routes. He knows how to manipulate space. When he moved to running back, he brought that spatial awareness with him. He led the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.3) at Purdue because he simply refused to go down on first contact.
In the NFL, that’s translated to "forced missed tackles." He doesn't just run into the back of his guards. He waits. He slides.
Kinda reminds you of a young Le'Veon Bell, just with more wide receiver "flavor" mixed in.
The Problem with the "Project" Label
Critics used to call him a project. "He’s too old," they said. "He’s a 25-year-old rookie," they complained.
Who cares?
In 2026, Tracy will be 26. In "running back years," that’s usually when guys start to fade, but Tracy has the legs of a 21-year-old. He didn't take 300 carries a year in college. He wasn't getting hammered between the tackles for four seasons at Iowa. He’s fresh.
Comparing the Value: Tracy vs. Stevenson
If you’re looking at the landscape of New York vs. New England, the comparisons to Rhamondre Stevenson are inevitable. Both are the engines of their respective (and often struggling) offenses.
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But Stevenson has a fumbling problem that won't go away. Since the start of 2024, Stevenson has led the league in fumbles among RBs. Tracy? He’s been much better at protecting the rock, losing only one fumble in the entire 2025 season.
Reliability matters.
The Giants' coaching staff knows that if they give Tracy the ball 20 times, it’s coming back to the huddle with him. That trust is why he stayed on the field even when the Giants brought in veterans like Devin Singletary.
What’s Next for Tyrone Tracy Jr.?
Looking ahead to 2026, Tracy isn't just a backup or a change-of-pace guy. He’s the identity. With Skattebo returning from injury, New York likely shifts to a "1A/1B" backfield, which might actually help Tracy's longevity.
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If you're watching the Giants, watch how they use him on first down. They’ve started using him in "pony" sets (two running backs on the field) more often.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Targets: If Tracy’s target share stays above four per game, he’s a top-tier versatile threat.
- Roster Stability: Expect the Giants to prioritize O-line help in the draft to give Tracy actual lanes to run through.
- Red Zone Usage: He only had two rushing TDs in 2025. If that number doesn't climb, his "elite" status will stay just out of reach.
Tracy gambled on himself when he switched positions. It was a weird move, a late-career pivot that usually fails. But he’s proven that being a "hybrid" isn't a weakness—it's exactly what the modern NFL requires.