The Giants continued their furious free-agency roster makeover Tuesday by bringing back a familiar face — Super Bowl XLVI hero Mario Manningham.
The veteran wide receiver, who spent four seasons with Big Blue before two injury-riddled years as a 49er, was re-signed to a one-year deal after passing a physical.
“Once a Giant, always a Giant,” Manningham said, according to a release from the team. “That’s how I feel. This is a very special place. I wanted to come back.”
Manningham, 27, becomes the 10th veteran free agent signed by the Giants since the market opened a week ago as part of general manager Jerry Reese’s bid to get the team back to the postseason after missing the playoffs four of the past five years.
A third-round pick by the Giants out of Michigan in 2008, Manningham’s career with Big Blue is best known for his 42-yard sideline circus catch in the fourth quarter against the Patriots in the Super Bowl to set up the game-winning points.
If Manningham is healthy (a big if, considering he tore his ACL and PCL in 2012 with San Francisco), he will provide the Giants depth at wide receiver and help fill the hole left by Hakeem Nicks’ free-agent departure to the Colts.
Manningham caught just 50 passes for 534 yards and one touchdown in 17 games over two seasons with the 49ers after signing a two-year, $7.375 million deal with San Francisco in 2012. Manningham finished both seasons on injured reserve.
“If you’re an athlete, you have a chip on your shoulder already, so you’re like, ‘I’m coming back strong this year,’’ Manningham said, according to the team. “I do believe it. I had a couple people who tore their ACL a couple times who said, ‘Man, you’re not going to get it back that following year, you’re going to get it back the year after that.’ I’m just trying to do what I can do to make a strong impact and win games.”