In life there are people who could care less about being the center of attention and who are more worried about making a difference far away from the annoying glow of the spotlight. New York Giants right offensive guard CHRISTOPHER SNEE is one of those people. Never mind that he plays on the offensive line, a place that doesn’t warrant much spotlight in the first place and a place that is criminally underrated. Pro Player Insiders caught up with Chris Snee during Media Day at preparations for Super Bowl XLVI.
Media attention or attention from his peers for his play on the offensive live has always found him (to date he has been to three Pro Bowls—from 2008-2010) and not the other way around. Snee comes off as one of those players who is not only good at playing on the offensive line, but is happy with the relative anonymity that the position brings. Do a Google search or talk to Snee and one can easily see that he just wants to love his wife and kids and play football.
When the media found out that he was engaged to his head coach Tom Coughlin’s daughter Kate, the media sought him out for stories or some sort of background on the relationship. When he worked his tail off at Boston College (BC) from 2001-2003 blocking for Eagle greats like running backs DERRICK KNIGHT (the all-time leading rusher in school history with 3,725 yards), WILLIAM GREEN (fifth in school history in rushing yards with 2,974), and for solid but underrated quarterback BRIAN ST. PIERRE (fourth in school history in single season passing yards with 2,983 in 2002) the media accorded him All-BIG EAST (the conference BC was in at the time) and All-America honors in 2003.
And now with the Giants the media, his peers, and assorted fans know who he is because of his solid play and it also helps that he plays in the biggest media mecca (New York) in the world. Snee could be one of those players who seek out commercial deals (nothing wrong with that), endorsement deals for local businesses, or try to become an actor on the side but that is not him. Snee is a father (he loves his three sons and they occupy a lot of his time), a husband, a son, loves his extended family, a football player, and a friend. That’s a lot of hats to wear but it is the Chris Snee way of life.
Snee just turned 30 years old 15 days ago but if one looks closely and/or Photoshops his facial hair off from a recent picture of him, he looks like he just graduated from BC instead of being a veteran of eight football seasons in the National Football League. One of the oldest life axioms is that those who age well or look younger than their age are those who are having fun. When a person has very young children like Snee and his wife Kate have, it can keep a parent(s) busy and laughing and having fun. Children add immense joy and happiness and that may be part of Snee’s secret to his youthful looks. It is not easy playing in the NFL no matter how talented a player is and a player has to have positive outside influences to help tame the stress that this game brings, and Snee has that. He also is involved as the Giants team representative for the Susquehanna County (where he grew up) chapter of the United Way foundation.
As for his Giants career, Snee has one Super Bowl ring to his credit (Super Bowl XLII) and of course he hopes to add another one in this upcoming Super Bowl. He has seen action and/or started in 122 out a possible 128 regular season games ever since he was drafted in the second round by the Giants in 2004. He was a quick study for the Giants as he was inserted into the lineup as a full-time starter in Week 1 of his rookie season versus the Philadelphia Eagles on September 12, 2004. That same season he was felled by an injury and so he missed the last five games of that season. But since that five-week MIA he has only missed one game since then. So, he has proven to be durable and consistent.
Snee is not of man of many thrills and frills he is more concerned with making those around him happy and keeping a low profile. It took an interview with him deep into his career to find out that his only superstition or pre-game ritual is to put on his right sock, then right shoe on before every game. Many players would have said this the first time they were interviewed, not Chris. Which brings up that to some he may come off as boring, but for those who really understand life and human behavior, Chris is just being himself and nothing and I mean nothing in this world is better than being yourself.
