Scottish NFL star Jamie Gillan on New York, rugby and black pudding

The Herald Scotland

9 hours ago

Rugby rather than American football had been Gillan's game growing up in the Highlands and then Edinburgh until his dad was redeployed with the RAF and the entire family – including a 16-year-old Gillan – decanted to Maryland.
How different Gillan's life would have been had he stayed in Scotland – he may have realised his early ambition of becoming a professional rugby player – but the enforced switch to the United States has undoubtedly been life-changing in many ways, the punter penning a three-year $10million contract extension with the Giants earlier this year.
With his long flowing hair, he remains one of the most recognisable figures in the NFL and is still happy to keep flying the flag for Scotland while doing so.
'Yeah, the Scottish Hammer, that's still what I get called,' he confirms. 'It's funny and it's cool. And I definitely represent Scotland when I'm out there. It's been pretty cool, the whole journey to where I'm at now.
'It was phenomenal to get the new contract done. My wife was very happy, my family was very happy, and I was very happy. First of all, to be back with the New York Giants. I really enjoy my time here and like the people that are in the building. My teammates, Casey (Kreiter) and Graham (Gano) are like family.
'But I wouldn't say I can just relax now because the NFL is a revolving door and it just doesn't work like that. You've got to stay primed all the time. I'm just very thankful and excited for another opportunity to play a few more years here and do my job well.
'I remember in Cleveland being around Britton Colquitt who was in year nine at the time and I'm getting close to that now. You get to understand the game a bit better and what works right for you, your body, your mentality, everything. It's great, it really is.'
Gillan seems surprised to learn that it's been more than a decade since he and the family left Scotland, a lot of water passing under numerous bridges in the intervening years. Now married and with a young son, Archie, in tow, New York is now Gillan's base but Scotland will always be home.
'Time has flown by, I'll tell you that,' he confirms. 'But I still remember loads of things from Scotland. I had some real good pals. And there are a lot of things I miss. I actually really miss club sports in Scotland, either watching others playing or playing yourself.
'Even just the smell of walking around Edinburgh. I don't know if it's from the distilleries or something. I miss some of the food as well - black pudding in a roll with egg and bacon, come on! And I miss seeing some of my extended family. They're a lot of fun to be around.'
A trip home is on the to-do list, although Gillan jokes he might wait until two-year-old Archie has passed the wriggling toddler stage before attempting the cross-Atlantic flights.
'I was back three years ago, took my wife out there for the first time and we had some fun,' he recalls. 'Since then we've had Archie, plus the whole NICU thing [Archie spent time in intensive care as a baby] and all that - everything's just been very fast.
'And with the little man, I wouldn't want to put anybody through a seven-hour flight with his little butt on there going crazy! But we're talking about getting out there next year when he's a little bit older to see all the family.'
Rugby remains Gillan's true passion. He caught up with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and the squad during their North American tour last summer and still follows their matches on TV.
'I love watching the Six Nations with a few of my buds from Cleveland who are rugby players,' he reveals. 'It's not always easy to find all of the matches but the Six Nations is streamed every year on TV. So usually we'll have a big breakfast and start with the first match which is usually around 9am our time.
"I love watching rugby, love watching the guys. Scotland, the team looks great. I absolutely love watching the boys play so I'm excited for next year as well.'
So, could the likes of Finn Russell or Blair Kinghorn make a similar switch to become NFL kickers? Gillan doesn't dismiss it out of hand.
'I think with the right coaching or if they spent enough time practising then they definitely could. When you kick footballs out of hand with no rushers or anybody timing your get-off time, you can go well. But it's good for someone in that situation to actually feel what it's like to have a snap come at you from 14 yards and guys rushing you before you kick.
'I actually met up with the Scottish rugby team last summer in Washington DC so I got to meet Gregor Townsend and the boys. Adam Hastings had a go as a spiral punter. He was spiralling really well. I said they better not show that tape to the Giants or they might want a different Scotsman!'
The NFL regularly takes matches across Europe and Gillan reckons they should be considering adding Murrayfield to the venue roster, too.
'I'd love that because I really enjoyed the game in London two years ago playing at the Tottenham Stadium. That's a beautiful stadium and the locals were unbelievable. I can't see why it wouldn't be feasible to have an NFL game at Murrayfield when 67,000 people can sit there.
'You're right in the centre of Edinburgh. It's a good spot. People drive six hours to go and watch a game here. When you put it like that, Murrayfield is not a hard place to get to, to go and watch a game. It would be a lot of fun.'