Jason Pierre - Paul Jason Andrew Pierre - Paul ( born January 1 , 1989 ) , nicknamed JPP , is an American football defensive end for the New York Giants of the National Football League ( NFL ) . The son of Haitian immigrants , Pierre - Paul grew up in Deerfield Beach , Florida . He played college football for the University of South Florida and was picked by the Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft . Early life . Pierre - Paul was born in Deerfield Beach , Florida to parents who emigrated from Haiti in 1983 . At Deerfield Beach High School , Pierre - Paul lettered in basketball for four years . After a serious leg injury while playing basketball , he took up football his junior year . College career . He amassed 49 tackles , 14 sacks , 19 tackles for a loss , two forced fumbles , one interception and one fumble recovery as a freshman at College of the Canyons ( California ) and earned First - team All - WSC and All - America honors . In 2008 Pierre - Paul played at Fort Scott Community College ( Kansas ) , where his 70 tackles , 10 . 5 sacks , three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries earned him First - Team Little All - American honors . He transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa , Florida . In 2009 , he played thirteen games for the Bulls with seven starts and totaled 45 tackles ( 16½ for losses ) , 6½ sacks , one interception ( returned 18 yards for a touchdown ) , broke up three passes , and forced two fumbles . He was named First - team All - America by " Pro Football Weekly " for his efforts , and was also first team All Big East . He earned the nickname Haitian Sensation . In the fourth week of the season , he was named the Defensive Lineman Performer of the Week in the College Performance Awards . After his junior year , he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL Draft . Professional career . New York Giants . 2010 season . Pierre - Paul was drafted by the New York Giants with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft . On July 31 , 2010 , Pierre - Paul and the Giants agreed to a five - year , $ 20 . 05 million deal with $ 11 . 629 million guaranteed . He made his NFL debut on September 12 , 2010 in the New York Giants ' season opener , and recorded 2 tackles . He finished the season playing a total of 16 games , totaling 24 solo tackles and recording 4 . 5 sacks . 2011 season . With injuries plaguing the Giants ' starting defensive ends , Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck , Pierre - Paul received a significant amount of playing time , including 12 starts . He led the team with 16 . 5 sacks , and was selected to his first Pro Bowl . Pierre - Paul was also named a First - team All - Pro . He recorded 65 tackles , 16 . 5 sacks , 1 safety , and 2 forced fumbles during the 2011 season . On December 11 , 2011 , after already compiling two sacks ( one for a safety ) and a forced fumble , Pierre - Paul blocked Dan Bailey ' s 47 - yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the Giants ' game against the Dallas Cowboys , and the Giants won 37 – 34 . Giants coach Tom Coughlin called a time - out prior to Bailey ' s first attempt at the field goal . Pierre - Paul became the first player in NFL history to record a sack , forced fumble , and blocked field goal in the same game . On December 13 , 2011 , he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week . On December 27 , 2011 it was announced that Pierre - Paul was voted to his first Pro Bowl , despite not being on the ballot . He played a big role in the Giants playoff run where they competed against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI and won 21 - 17 . 2012 season . On October 28 , 2012 against the Dallas Cowboys , Pierre - Paul caught his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown . Pierre - Paul finished the 2012 season with 6 . 5 sacks and 43 total tackles . 2013 season . On June 3 , 2013 , Pierre - Paul underwent back surgery to remove a herniated disc . As a result , he will miss 12 weeks including the entire 2013 preseason . Statistics . Source :