Joe Ruback, better known as License Plate Guy (born June 7, 1969), is a fan of the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
, best known for the
license plates
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate ( Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificat ...
he wears at each game and his presence at most Giants games in general. Ruback went to all 283 games (272 regular season and eleven playoff games) the team played at
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium (sometimes referred to as Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands or The Swamp) was a stadium located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The venue was open from 1976 to 2010, and it primarily hosted sp ...
.
He has attended every Giants home and away game since 2000, except during the
2020 NFL season
The 2020 NFL season was the 101st season of the National Football League (NFL). The regular season started with the NFL Kickoff Game on September 10, in which defending Super Bowl LIV champion Kansas City defeated Houston. The playoffs were ...
in which fans were not permitted to attend due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
Ruback first wore a plate to a game when he was 16, but the tradition of license plates did not become what it is now until the last decade. He now boasts a collection of over 100 Giants-themed plates.
![Young LPG](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Young_LPG.jpg)
Joe Ruback has made several appearances on ''The Boomer & Carton'' radio show on WFAN in New York. Ruback has become a fan favorite, but prides himself as "an average fan" and can be seen before every game (home and away) in the parking lot taking pictures with fans.. Joe has also been featured on
NFL Network
NFL Network (occasionally abbreviated on-air as NFLN) is an American sports-oriented pay television network owned by the National Football League (NFL) and is part of NFL Media, which also includes NFL.com, NFL Films, NFL Mobile, NFL Now and NFL ...
and Good Day New York.
Philanthropy
Ruback participates in many off the field philanthropic endeavors including "Pink Tailgate" raising money and awareness for breast cancer and those affected.
In 2017, Ruback organized a charity softball game to raise money for the
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. Working with
Landon Collins
Landon Alexander Collins (born January 10, 1994) is an American football safety and linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a part of the team that won the 20 ...
, who headlined the event, a softball match was organized between current and past Giants team members. The event also featured a dodgeball game and a home run derby.
In 2021, Ruback began an initiative to collect and redistribute unused tickets to other Giants fans, aiming for a higher turnout at
MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 5 mi (8 km) west of New York City. Opened in 2010 to replace Giants Stadium, it serves as the home for the New York Giants an ...
. The program received media attention and contributions from players
Darnay Holmes
Darnay Darius Robert Holmes (born June 23, 1998) is an American football cornerback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCLA. His father, Darick Holmes, played in the NFL from 1995 to 1999 ...
and
Logan Ryan
Logan may refer to:
Places
* Mount Logan (disambiguation)
Australia
* Logan (Queensland electoral district), an electoral district in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
* Logan, Victoria, small locality near St. Arnaud
* Logan City, local gove ...
.
Legal issues
Ruback was arrested on possible affiliation of loan sharking, extortion, and grand larceny; however charges in a 2014 case were dropped in 2016. The New York Giants have stated they have no affiliation with Ruback and he does not represent the New York Giants in any capacity.
See also
*
Barrel Man
*
Chief Zee
Zema Williams (July 7, 1941 – July 19, 2016), better known as Chief Zee, was a well-known fan and unofficial mascot of the franchise then-known as the Washington Redskins (since renamed Washington Commanders) of the National Football League. Dr ...
*
Crazy Ray
Wilford Jones (January 22, 1931 – March 17, 2007), better known as Crazy Ray, was the unofficial mascot of the Dallas Cowboys. By some accounts, he was also the team's original mascot, who attended almost every home game since the team's inceptio ...
*
Fireman Ed
Edwin M. Anzalone (born September 19, 1959), better known as Fireman Ed, is a well known fan of the New York Jets. One of the most well-known National Football League fans, he has risen to prominence by appearing on many local radio shows. He is ...
*
Hogettes
The Hogettes were a group of fans of the Washington Redskins (the franchise is now known as the Washington Commanders) who wore women's dresses, garden party hats, and pig snouts. The group was founded in 1983 by Michael Torbert and became a regul ...
*
Bleacher Creatures
The Bleacher Creatures are a group of fans of the New York Yankees who are known for their strict allegiance to the team and their fierce attitude towards opposing fans and teams. The group's nickname was coined for the first time by '' New Yor ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:License Plate Guy
Living people
New York Giants
Spectators of American football
Vehicle registration plates of the United States
1969 births