Back in 2007, the wife of New York Giants assistant video director, Carmen Pizzano, gave him a teddy bear and asked him to dispose of it. But instead of doing that, Pizzano brought it to team facilities, where it’s remained ever since.

Although the teddy bear didn’t make much of an appearance during the team’s 2007 run to Super Bowl XLII, it was around and treated like a symbol.

In 2011, the bear gained a significant amount of fame after offensive lineman James Brewer, who had assumed custody of it from Kareem McKenzie, was spotted exiting the Giants’ plane in Indianapolis with it in hand.

Initially, Brewer was mocked for carrying around a teddy bear. But eventually, its purpose became known. And when Big Blue went on to defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, there it was.

On Sunday, when the Giants take on the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round if the playoffs, the teddy bear will again make an appearance.

“He’s coming with us,” guard Justin Pugh told Newsday. “I asked the [offensive linemen]. I just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page and does everyone want to take the bear. And everyone said, ‘Yeah, let’s do the bear.’ I asked Eli [Manning], and he was fine with it, too.”

The Giants, of course, are known for being quite superstitious. Even Eli Manning has admitted to being a “little stitious,” so it should come as no surprise the teddy bear is being embraced.

This is, after all, a team that once refused to take down their facility Christmas tree because they were on such a run — a run that culminated in a Lombardi Trophy.

Pugh says the ottoman bear will be entrusted to backup center/guard Brett Jones this time around, simply because he’s the youngest.

“It’s pretty special to get that opportunity,” Jones said. “I don’t view it as a hassle. It’s going to be cool.”

If this teddy bear truly is as lucky as the Giants believe it to be, we can all hope to see it several more times this year.