Zaire Barnes holds the MLB · Depth spot in New York Giants’s linebacker room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Zaire Barnes played 11 games in 2025 with a 13% snap share.

Zaire Barnes is a 27-year-old linebacker standing 6'1" and weighing 227 pounds. The Western Michigan product was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round (184th overall) of the 2023 draft. He appeared in four games during his 2023 rookie season but did not record statistics. After missing the entire 2024 season due to an ankle injury, Barnes was waived by the Jets and signed to the New York Giants' practice squad in August 2025. He has since appeared in 11 games (one start) with the Giants, recording 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hit, while adding 13 special teams tackles.

Western Michigan2018 – 2022

Jets2023 – 2024

Giants2025 — present

CollegeWestern MichiganDraftRound 6 · No. 184 overall · 2023 · NYJAcquiredAcquired from New York Jets · drafted thereHometownMundelein, IL