For New York Giants rookie tight end Thomas Fidone, every tattoo etched on his body tells a story. Some of those stories are painful, others inspirational, but all of them have shaped the player — and man — he is today. And while his body is covered in art, it’s the scars you don’t see that have defined his journey the most.
After just two days in the NFL, Fidone already sounds like a veteran when discussing the magnitude of this opportunity. “It’s been awesome. It’s been a blessing. Great experience, dreams come true,” he said with a wide smile. “Just being able to be around guys with like-minded goals who want to be great and push themselves every day — it’s been good.”
That hunger to succeed has been forged in adversity. Twice during his college career at Nebraska, Fidone suffered devastating knee injuries. For many, one major injury is enough to derail a dream. But two? That’s a crossroads where even the most talented athletes start questioning their path.
“Absolutely, it was difficult,” Fidone admitted. “But I’ve always had a tight family and good friends around me. I knew I made it through the first one, came back strong, fast, and explosive. So I knew I could do the second one even better. I almost had some experience, unfortunately, but I knew what it took to push myself and get back.”
That grit and resilience are exactly why the Giants took a chance on the 6’6”, 250-pound tight end. His talent has never been in question. But his ability to bounce back from adversity and return mentally and physically stronger says more about his character than any scouting report ever could.
Fidone credits his college coach, Matt Rhule, for preparing him for the mental side of the NFL grind. “He brought a lot of very similar things to what we’re doing here — the formations, the verbiage,” Fidone explained. “In college, it felt like every level before that was pointless because the speed of the game and how fast you have to process things is just so different. But I’m where I should be now, and being around these guys is only going to help me grow more.”
Among those guys are fellow rookies Cam Skattebo and Abdul Carter, both of whom have already made an impression on Fidone. “They’re very like-minded, hardheaded, tough individuals. I’ve spent a lot of time with Cam going over plays, and Abdul, he’s as advertised — tough, strong, great technique. Being around guys like that is going to push me, and I’ll push them too. That’s how teams get better.”
Yet, for all the talk of football, it’s hard not to notice the striking artwork that adorns Fidone’s body. Some pieces were done by professional artists, but a surprising number were done by Fidone himself — including the number “24” tattooed on his knee, a symbol of personal significance.
During the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others binge-watched Netflix or learned to bake bread, Fidone picked up a tattoo machine. “I just got bored,” he recalled with a laugh. “Everything was closed. It was winter. I had to do something. So I started watching YouTube videos, learning about needles and depth, making sure I didn’t take anyone’s arm off.”
Asked why he would willingly tattoo himself — enduring not just the pain, but the pressure of perfection — Fidone simply shrugged. “I’m the type of person that if I start something, I’m going to do it until I’m good at it, or great at it. I don’t want to just start and not finish something.”
It’s that mindset — finish what you start — that will serve Fidone well in the NFL. And whether it’s football or tattooing, the lesson remains the same: patience is key.
“If you rush a tattoo, it’s not going to be what you want it to be,” he explained. “But if you take your time and do it well, then you’re going to get what you want out of it. Same with this game. You have to trust the process.”
For now, Fidone is focused solely on football. The tattoo machine is packed away, and the empty spaces on his canvas can wait. There’s a new chapter of his life being written — not in ink, but on the gridiron. And for Thomas Fidone, this might just be his most meaningful masterpiece yet.
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