New York Giants legend Jessie Armstead has shown throughout his remarkable career that by playing the game the right way on and off the field anyone can excel in life.
In addition to his extraordinary accomplishments as a professional football player, Armstead has made a difference in society through his charitable endeavors and support of social causes, and has worked hard to become a successful businessman.
Armstead enjoyed a distinguished, 11-year career in the National Football League, including nine seasons with the New York Giants. During his time in the NFL from 1993 to 2003, he earned five Pro Bowl Selections as one of the best linebackers in the league. In 2010, he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor, the highest accolade given by the iconic team. He was also named the Giants 2013 Man of the Year, an award that celebrated his exemplary character as a player and person.
A fierce competitor, Armstead was known for his superior talent and superb leadership. He finished his career with a notable stat sheet of 752 tackles, including 40 sacks and 12 interceptions for 175 yards. As a Giant, he had five straight seasons of more than 100 tackles, including a career-best 134 in 1997. Armstead also helped the Giants reach the Super Bowl in 2000. He played his final two seasons with the Washington Redskins.
On June 13, 2007, Armstead signed a one-day player contract with New York to officially retire as a Giant. He spent the 2008 season as the Giants’ Special Assistant/Consultant. His responsibilities included special projects, defensive assignments, player development and free agent recruiting.
Off the field Armstead is a proud and active supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network, Jimmy’s Fund, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the YMCA and YWCA, SKOR, and Ryan’s Quest. In 2010, the YMCA honored Armstead with its prestigious Community Enrichment Award.
For these and many other charitable undertakings, Armstead received the New York Giants 2013 Man of the Year Award. He was praised at the award ceremony as a model player and exceptional person who never said no when given the opportunity to help others or provide service, whether it be visiting a child in a hospital or making a generous contribution to charity.
Fittingly, the award was presented to Armstead at a benefit for The Touchdown Fund, a charitable partnership in which the Giants raise funds for the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, the Heart & Vascular Hospital, and the John Theurer Cancer Center, all at Hackensack University Medical Center. Armstead is a strong voice for the charity.
Armstead is also a long-time advocate of community policing, recognizing the great value and societal benefits that come from law enforcement being involved in their communities, especially with young people.
In 2017, Armstead and professional basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal took the lead role in promoting Safe Stop, a New Jersey-wide initiative to strengthen relationships between police and the communities in which they patrol. The program is particularly aimed at reducing tension in police-civilian interaction during traffic stops.
A Dallas native, Armstead attended Carter High School and was a member of its 1988 state championship team that was the subject of the ESPN documentary, “What Carter Lost.” The program, part of ESPN’s award-winning documentary series, “30 for 30,” chronicled the scandal-mired 1988 season. The team was stripped of its title three years later due to eligibility infractions.
Recruited by Hall of Fame Coach Jimmy Johnson, Armstead chose to attend the University of Miami. He went on to become a standout for Miami’s national championship teams in 1989 and 1991. During his sophomore year Armstead suffered a significant torn ACL injury. Through hard work and dedication, he persevered through the setback and was eventually drafted by the Giants in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
Following his retirement the gridiron great put his entrepreneurial skills to work in the automotive industry. In 2009, Armstead co-founded Hamilton Honda with automotive industry veteran Mike Saporito. The dealership skyrocketed into the Top 10 Honda retailers in the nation within one year of opening its doors. Hamilton Honda continues to receive many honors, including the Hamilton Township New Business Award, Hamilton Community Enrichment Award and “Dealer Of The Year” at the 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards in Detroit.
Hamilton Honda is also a multi-time recipient of the Council of Excellence Award including 2018 and a two-time recipient of the President’s Award. Hamilton Honda received the 2018 U.S. Consumer Satisfaction Award by DealerRater for four consecutive years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) American Honda Motor Co.’s most prestigious recognition. In less than three years, the dealership sold over an astonishing 10,000 new Honda vehicles.
With the immediate success established at Hamilton Honda, Armstead partnered with Saporito and another former New York Giant great, Antonio Pierce, to open Englewood Cliffs Cadillac in 2012. The dealership’s 20,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art service area is equipped to handle a wide range of custom Cadillac vehicles for clientele throughout the greater New York City area.
In 2015, the three co- owners opened Nissan in Dearborn, Michigan. In 2016 they debuted Hazleton Automall in Pennsylvania, representing the Honda, Nissan, Kia and Hyundai brands. They will soon open Grapevine Honda in Grapevine, Texas.
No matter the endeavor, Jessie Armstead follows the winning playbook of tackling all initiatives with the highest integrity, hard work, dedication and perseverance
In addition to his extraordinary accomplishments as a professional football player, Armstead has made a difference in society through his charitable endeavors and support of social causes, and has worked hard to become a successful businessman.
Armstead enjoyed a distinguished, 11-year career in the National Football League, including nine seasons with the New York Giants. During his time in the NFL from 1993 to 2003, he earned five Pro Bowl Selections as one of the best linebackers in the league. In 2010, he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor, the highest accolade given by the iconic team. He was also named the Giants 2013 Man of the Year, an award that celebrated his exemplary character as a player and person.
A fierce competitor, Armstead was known for his superior talent and superb leadership. He finished his career with a notable stat sheet of 752 tackles, including 40 sacks and 12 interceptions for 175 yards. As a Giant, he had five straight seasons of more than 100 tackles, including a career-best 134 in 1997. Armstead also helped the Giants reach the Super Bowl in 2000. He played his final two seasons with the Washington Redskins.
On June 13, 2007, Armstead signed a one-day player contract with New York to officially retire as a Giant. He spent the 2008 season as the Giants’ Special Assistant/Consultant. His responsibilities included special projects, defensive assignments, player development and free agent recruiting.
Off the field Armstead is a proud and active supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network, Jimmy’s Fund, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the YMCA and YWCA, SKOR, and Ryan’s Quest. In 2010, the YMCA honored Armstead with its prestigious Community Enrichment Award.
For these and many other charitable undertakings, Armstead received the New York Giants 2013 Man of the Year Award. He was praised at the award ceremony as a model player and exceptional person who never said no when given the opportunity to help others or provide service, whether it be visiting a child in a hospital or making a generous contribution to charity.
Fittingly, the award was presented to Armstead at a benefit for The Touchdown Fund, a charitable partnership in which the Giants raise funds for the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, the Heart & Vascular Hospital, and the John Theurer Cancer Center, all at Hackensack University Medical Center. Armstead is a strong voice for the charity.
Armstead is also a long-time advocate of community policing, recognizing the great value and societal benefits that come from law enforcement being involved in their communities, especially with young people.
In 2017, Armstead and professional basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal took the lead role in promoting Safe Stop, a New Jersey-wide initiative to strengthen relationships between police and the communities in which they patrol. The program is particularly aimed at reducing tension in police-civilian interaction during traffic stops.
A Dallas native, Armstead attended Carter High School and was a member of its 1988 state championship team that was the subject of the ESPN documentary, “What Carter Lost.” The program, part of ESPN’s award-winning documentary series, “30 for 30,” chronicled the scandal-mired 1988 season. The team was stripped of its title three years later due to eligibility infractions.
Recruited by Hall of Fame Coach Jimmy Johnson, Armstead chose to attend the University of Miami. He went on to become a standout for Miami’s national championship teams in 1989 and 1991. During his sophomore year Armstead suffered a significant torn ACL injury. Through hard work and dedication, he persevered through the setback and was eventually drafted by the Giants in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
Following his retirement the gridiron great put his entrepreneurial skills to work in the automotive industry. In 2009, Armstead co-founded Hamilton Honda with automotive industry veteran Mike Saporito. The dealership skyrocketed into the Top 10 Honda retailers in the nation within one year of opening its doors. Hamilton Honda continues to receive many honors, including the Hamilton Township New Business Award, Hamilton Community Enrichment Award and “Dealer Of The Year” at the 15th Annual Urban Wheel Awards in Detroit.
Hamilton Honda is also a multi-time recipient of the Council of Excellence Award including 2018 and a two-time recipient of the President’s Award. Hamilton Honda received the 2018 U.S. Consumer Satisfaction Award by DealerRater for four consecutive years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) American Honda Motor Co.’s most prestigious recognition. In less than three years, the dealership sold over an astonishing 10,000 new Honda vehicles.
With the immediate success established at Hamilton Honda, Armstead partnered with Saporito and another former New York Giant great, Antonio Pierce, to open Englewood Cliffs Cadillac in 2012. The dealership’s 20,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art service area is equipped to handle a wide range of custom Cadillac vehicles for clientele throughout the greater New York City area.
In 2015, the three co- owners opened Nissan in Dearborn, Michigan. In 2016 they debuted Hazleton Automall in Pennsylvania, representing the Honda, Nissan, Kia and Hyundai brands. They will soon open Grapevine Honda in Grapevine, Texas.
No matter the endeavor, Jessie Armstead follows the winning playbook of tackling all initiatives with the highest integrity, hard work, dedication and perseverance