DJ Reader
- Height
- 6-3
- Weight
- 335
- Age
- 32
- College
- Clemson
- Drafted
- 2016 · R5 P166
- Exp
- 11
Overview
D.J. Reader signed with the Giants in 2026 free agency to anchor a defensive line that lost Dexter Lawrence in an offseason trade to Cincinnati. Houston drafted Reader in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2016, and he also played for Cincinnati, including an appearance in Super Bowl LVI, and Detroit before joining New York.
Across 137 career games with 128 starts, Reader has recorded 328 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, 56 quarterback hits, nine passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. He is a two-time winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Reader lines up as the Giants' nose tackle in their base 3-4 defense, the traditional two-gap role suited to his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame. He played in the Giants' 28-20 Week 1 win over Dallas.
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Frequently asked
- Why did the Giants sign D.J. Reader?
- The Giants signed Reader in 2026 free agency to fill the void at defensive tackle left by trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati, primarily to shore up run defense.
- What position does D.J. Reader play for the Giants?
- Reader plays nose tackle in the Giants' base 3-4 defensive scheme.
- What teams did D.J. Reader play for before the Giants?
- Reader played for the Houston Texans (2016-19), Cincinnati Bengals (2020-23) and Detroit Lions (2024-25) before signing with the Giants.
- How many career sacks does D.J. Reader have?
- Reader has 12.5 career sacks across 11 NFL seasons, reflecting his role as a run-stopper rather than a pass rusher.
- Where was D.J. Reader drafted?
- Reader was a fifth-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Clemson.
- Has D.J. Reader played in a Super Bowl?
- Yes, Reader appeared in Super Bowl LVI with the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2021 season.
Also at defensive tackle:Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Basil Okoye