Jon Runyan Jr. ready to kick off Giants ‘SNF’ season opener against Cowboys: ‘Nothing better’

It still resonates. 

Jon Runyan Jr. has 96 games and 79 starts on his NFL résumé, and after four years with the Packers and the past two with the Giants, he knows his way around primetime action. The 29-year-old left guard is buoyed and not at all blasé about kicking off this season under the lights at MetLife Stadium. 

“Only show on in America at the time, playing against the Cowboys,’’ Runyan told The Post. “I love playing ‘Sunday Night Football’ because I just think back to times, me being in high school, still haven’t done my homework and ‘Sunday Night Football’ comes on, in my room, laying on the floor playing catch with the football and watching.

“I remember those days of watching by myself in high school and watching my dad [former NFL offensive tackle Jon Runyan] playing as well. I love it. There’s nothing better.’’ 

Runyan started 29 games the past two seasons for the Giants but entered this season with no more guaranteed money on the three-year, $30 million deal he signed in March 2024. That seemingly made him vulnerable to getting cut, but he persevered through a demanding summer under new head coach John Harbaugh and last week was given a two-year, $22 million contract extension — with $21.5 million of it guaranteed.

New York Giants guard Jon Runyan Jr. looks on before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

This means four of the five starting offensive linemen — Runyan, Andrew Thomas, rookie Sisi Mauigoa and Jermaine Eluemunor — are signed through at least 2028. Center John Michael Schmitz Jr. is in the final year of his rookie contract. 

“I feel the way our trajectory has been going since 2024 as an offensive line, we keep these guys together that we have, I feel it’s just going to keep going up and up,’’ Runyan said. “As the offensive line goes, I feel that’s how the team goes and Year 2, Year 3 under Harbaugh, this thing is really going to skyrocket.’’ 

New York Giants guard Jon Runyan (76) after the Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

The Cowboys defense is almost completely overhauled. Only three starters — DT Kenny Clark, S Malik Hooker and CB DaRon Bland — return from a unit that in 2025 allowed more points — 511 — than any other team in the league. The other eight starters are new to the roster. 

The newness extends to the coaching staff, as the Cowboys made Christian Parker the youngest defensive coordinator in franchise history.

Parker, 34, was the Eagles pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach before moving from one NFC East team to another. 

“One of his really premium goals is to mix it up and be unpredictable,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan earlier this summer. “That really takes a lot of communication. That takes a lot of coordination. Bottom line is, I think he’s got all the ingredients.

“Not only is he a motivator, communicator, but he’s got the ingredients to be a very strategic outstanding coach.” 

Harbaugh was 4-1 facing the Cowboys during his time as the Ravens head coach. 

“They’re always, I mean, the Cowboys are the Cowboys,’’ Harbaugh said. “They’re talented, they’re tough. They do it their way and they’ve got a bunch of guys, fast football team that flies around. A lot of talent on offense, they’re rebuilding their defense.’’