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Graham Gano has been through plenty of tough moments in football, but few sting like the words sent his way online. The veteran New York Giants kicker recently opened up about the abuse he’s faced from angry bettors — a problem becoming increasingly common across professional sports.
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Speaking after practice, the 38-year-old kicker described the pressure and negativity that have followed since sports betting became mainstream. Gano said:
“I mean, shoot, ever since sports betting started to happen, I get people telling me to kill myself every week. ‘Cause I’ll hit a kick that loses them money. I’ll miss a kick, and it loses them money.”
He missed a 45-yard field goal before halftime in the Giants’ Week 9 game against San Francisco, a matchup New York went on to lose 34–24. Afterward, he said the online attacks quickly piled up.
“It was the other day that somebody told me to get cancer and die. So I mean that stuff’s part of it,” he said, adding that after nearly two decades in the league, he’s learned to live with it. “But just playing this long, that stuff, you’re used to it by now.”
Gano’s story mirrors what many athletes across major leagues have voiced since betting became legal in more than 35 U.S. states. Social media gives fans and bettors direct access to players — and some cross the line when money is lost.
He said:
“I try not to see [that stuff] as best I can, and if I start seeing that stuff, I just shut it off. Unfortunately, that’s part of the game…I’ll get letters, I’ll get fans telling me it to my face, gamedays, the DMs. I hear a lot of it from other guys on the team, too, [dealing with it]. It’s tough.”
The 16-year veteran said he does his best to focus on what matters most:
“I just want to make the fans happy, and want to help the team win games.”
Athlete well-being has increasingly become a topic in professional sports circles. Leagues like the NFL and NBA have rolled out initiatives to help players manage mental health and deal with online harassment. Still, the problem persists, particularly for players in high-pressure positions like kickers and goalkeepers, where a single mistake can swing not just a game, but millions in bets.
The NFL Players Association has acknowledged that betting-related hate has risen in recent seasons. Some teams have begun providing guidance on filtering social media or blocking abusive messages.
While Gano continues his recovery from injury, his comments highlight a troubling intersection between fandom, gambling, and personal attacks. Many players have echoed his sentiment — that the line between criticism and cruelty has become dangerously thin.
His missed 45-yard field goal in a loss to the 49ers fueled a wave of hate messages from bettors who claimed to have lost money.
He hasn’t specified if any formal reports were made but said he tries to ignore or block hateful content.
Yes. Several players and coaches have recently shared similar stories about betting-related harassment online.
Leagues and unions are exploring stricter penalties for harassment, better digital protection tools, and increased mental health resources for athletes.