Giants all-time team loaded with players from “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” defense.
Giants all-time team loaded with players from “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” defense.
The National Football League is about to embark on its 100th season, and the New York Giants have been around for 95 of those seasons. The G-Men have been to the playoffs 33 times, reached 20 league championship games and won eight titles.
One of the most well-known eras in Giants history was the mid-to late-1980s, with Phil Simms at quarterback, a strong running game and a destructive defense known as the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew.” Several of those players are on the franchise’s all-time team.
Coach: Steve Owen coached without a contract for 23 seasons, amassing a 153-100-17 record. The Hall of Famer took the team to eight NFL Championship Games, winning two titles. He also led the Giants to an upset of the 13-0 Bears in the 1934 title game. Tom Coughlin went 102-90 in 12 seasons at the helm in New York. He led the team to five playoffs and two Super Bowl victories over the Patriots, including spoiling New England’s perfect season in 2007. Bill Parcells, a gruff disciplinarian, was the right person to lead the team in the 1980s. He won two Super Bowls and went 77-49-1 in eight seasons. Jim Fassel had a 58-53-1 record in sevens seasons. The team went to the playoffs three times, including a run to Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Ravens. Jim Lee Howell took over for Owen and went 53-27-4 in seven years. He took the Giants to three championship games, winning in 1956. Allie Sherman (57-51-4) led New York to the NFL Championship Game in his first three seasons (1961-63).
Quarterback: The Giants traded for Eli Manning at the 2004 draft, and he has led the team to two titles (he was the MVP in both Super Bowls) and six playoff appearances in 15 seasons. The four-time Pro Bowler tops the team’s all-time list with 55,981 yards and 360 touchdowns. Phil Simms led New York to one title and was on the way to another when he broke his foot near the end of the 1990 season. The two-time Pro Bowler and MVP of Super Bowl XXI is second on the franchise list with 33,462 yards and 199 scores. Charlie Conerly led the team to the championship in 1956 and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He threw for 19,488 yards and 173 touchdowns in 14 seasons. Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle and Fran Tarkenton each spent a few years with New York at the end of their careers. Tittle was three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and the league MVP in 1963, when he led the NFL with 36 touchdowns. Tarkenton went to four Pro Bowls in five seasons. Kerry Collins was the starter when the team played in Super Bowl XXXV.
Running Back: Tiki Barber is the team’s all-time leader with 10,449 yards and is second with 55 touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler was an All-Pro in 2005, when he ran for 1,860 yards. Barber is also second in catches (586) and fourth in receiving yards (5,183). Rodney Hampton was a rookie in the Super Bowl XXV season. He is second with 6,897 yards and third with 49 scores. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who ran for 1,000 or more yards five times. Joe Morris starred on the team in the mid-1980s. He had 5,296 yards and 48 touchdowns, including a league-high 21 in 1985. He also was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1986. Frank Gifford went to eight Pro Bowls, was a four-time All-Pro and was a part of the 1956 title team. He ranks in the top 10 in yards and touchdowns on both the rushing and receiving lists. Brandon Jacobs was a two-time champion who ran for 5,087 yards and a team-record 60 scores, including 15 in 2008. Ahmad Bradshaw, who had 4,332 yards and 32 touchdowns, was the “Lightning” to Jacobs’ “Thunder” on two title teams.
Fullback: Hall of Famer Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. He played in four championship games and led the league in rushing with 830 yards as a rookie in 1936. Alex Webster scored 39 touchdowns and is fifth on the team list with 4,638 yards. “Big Red” was a two-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 1956 Championship team. Eddie Price went to three Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro in six seasons.
Wide Receiver: Amani Toomer tops the team’s all-time list with 668 receptions, 9,497 yards, and 54 touchdowns. He had 1,000 or more yards five times and appeared in two Super Bowls. Kyle Rote has 4,797 yards and is second with 48 scores. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and a member of the 1956 championship team. Joe Morrison ranks third with 395 catches and 47 touchdowns, and he also has 4,993 yards. Before being traded this offseason, Odell Beckham Jr. climbed to second with 5,476 yards and is fourth with 390 catches and 44 scores. He went to three Pro Bowls, had four 1,000-yard seasons and was the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Homer Jones was a two-time Pro Bowler who had 4,845 yards and led the NFL with 13 touchdowns in 1967. Chris Calloway had 4,710 yards in seven seasons. Hakeem Nicks had two 1,000-yard seasons and played in Super Bowl XLVI. Ike Hilliard played eight seasons and appeared in Super Bowl XXXV. Del Shofner went to three Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro three times and played in three NFL Championship Games. Victor Cruz had 4,549 yards and was a 2012 Pro Bowler.
Tight End: Mark Bavaro was an integral part of two championship teams. He was a two-time Pro-Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and a member of the 1985 All-Rookie Team. Aaron Thomas, a 1964 Pro Bowler, had 4,253 yards and 35 touchdowns. Jeremy Shockey was a four-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in his 2002 rookie season, and he played in Super Bowl XLII. Bob Tucker is the leader in receptions (327) and yards (4,376) at the position.
Tackle: Hall of Famer Roosevelt Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a six-time All-Pro on the left side. He appeared in six championship games, including the 1956 title win. Doug Riesenberg played in Super Bowl XXV and started 122 games in nine years. His teammate, John “Jumbo” Elliott was a member of the 1988 All-Rookie Team and a Pro Bowler in 1993. David Diehl started at four different positions. He was a two-time champion and a 2009 Pro Bowler. Brad Benson was a 1986 Pro Bowler and a member of the Super Bowl XXI title team. Kareem McKenzie was a two-time champion.
Guard: Chris Snee was a two-time champion, a four-time Pro Bowler and a 2008 All-Pro during his 10 seasons with the Giants. William Roberts won two titles and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1990. Jack Stroud split time between guard and tackle. He was a three-time Pro Bowler who played in six championship games, winning in 1956. Doug Van Horn played in 158 games in 12 years and spent the 1970s moving along the offensive line. Darrell Dess was a two-time Pro Bowler and played in four title contests. Ron Stone was named to a pair of Pro Bowls and played in Super Bowl XXXV. Billy Ard started on the left side in Super Bowl XXI.
Center: Mel Hein was a Hall of Famer and arguably the best center in the NFL’s first 30 years. He was a five-time All-Pro, a four-time Pro Bowler and the 1938 Joseph Carr MVP award winner. He led the team to seven title games and two championships. Bart Oates was a two-time champion and a three-time Pro Bowler. Ray Wietecha was a four-time Pro Bowler, a 1958 All-Pro and a five-time championship game participant. Shaun O’Hara played in Super Bowl XLII, as well as three Pro Bowls. Greg Larson played in three NFL Championship Games and was a Pro Bowler in 1968.
Defensive End: Hall of Famer Michael Strahan is the franchise leader with 141½ sacks, including a league-record 22½ in 2001 and 18½ two years later. He played in two Super Bowls and was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and the 2001 Defensive Player of the Year. Andy Robustelli, another Hall of Famer, was a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. He played in six title games and earned the 1962 Bert Bell Player of the Year award. Justin Tuck was a two-time champion, a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2008 All-Pro. His 60½ sacks rank sixth in team history. Osi Umenyiora is fourth with 75 sacks. He won two titles and was a two-time Pro Bowler and a 2005 All-Pro. Jason Pierre-Paul was a two-time Pro Bowler who had 58½ sacks, including 16½ in his 2011 All-Pro season. Jim Katcavage was a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and a participant in six championship games. Leonard Marshall is third with 79½ sacks and first with 660 solo tackles. He is a two-time champion and a two-time Pro Bowler. George Martin played in Super Bowl XXI. He had 46 sacks in 14 seasons.
Defensive Tackle: Roosevelt Grier was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in the 1956 championship season. Hall of Famer Arnie Weinmeister was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro all four years with the Giants. Keith Hamilton is fifth on the team list with 63 sacks, and he played in Super Bowl XXXV. Erik Howard was a two-time champion who made the Pro Bowl in 1990.
Outside Linebacker: Lawrence Taylor is arguably the greatest linebacker and one of the most intimidating players in NFL history. He is second on the franchise list with 132½ sacks, including a then-record 20½ in his MVP season in 1986. The Hall of Famer was also a 10-time Pro Bowler and an eight-time All-Pro. LT was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year who had seven seasons with 10 or more sacks. Two-time champion Carl Banks is third with 627 solo tackles to go along with 36 sacks, including nine in a Pro Bowl and All-Pro season in 1987. Before Taylor and Banks, the starters were Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley. Van Pelt was a five-time Pro Bowler who had 11 interceptions. Kelley had 15 picks in 11 seasons.
Inside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Sam Huff went to six championship games, including the 1956 title. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro who had 18 picks. Another Canton enshrined, Harry Carson, was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a champion in Super Bowl XXI. Jessie Armstead had 30 ½ sacks, 12 interceptions, and 594 solo tackles. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a 1997 All-Pro and a participant in Super Bowl XXXV. Thomas “Pepper” Johnson was the final member of the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” linebacker corps. He was a two-time champion, and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in the 1990 Super Bowl XXV season.
Cornerback: Before he was a Hall of Fame coach, Tom Landry was a star in New York. He was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 1954, and he had 31 interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. Dick Lynch was tied for fourth with 35 picks, including four returned for scores. He played in four championship games and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 1961. Willie Williams was a 1969 Pro Bowler who matched Lynch with 35 interceptions, including a league-high 10 in 1968. Corey Webster had 20 picks and was a two-time champion. Phillippi Sparks had 22 interceptions in eight seasons. Mark Collins and Perry Williams were both a part of two title teams. Collins was fifth in team history with 515 solo tackles and Williams had 18 picks.
Safety: Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell ranks second in NFL history with 79 interceptions, 74 with the Gants. The 1956 champion had four returned for touchdowns and picked off at least five passes in 10 straight years. Jimmy Patton is second with 52 interceptions, including a league-leading 11 in 1958. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro, and he played in six championship games. Carl “Spider” Lockhart was a two-time Pro Bowler who ranks third with 41 picks, including three brought back for scores. Terry Kinard was a champion in Super Bowl XXI and a Pro Bowler in 1988. Shaun Williams had 13 interceptions and played in Super Bowl XXXV.
Kicker: Lawrence Tynes was a two-time champion who had five seasons of 100 or more points and 586 overall. Pete Gogolak was the team’s all-time leader with 646 points.
Punter: Dave Jennings is a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and he led the league in yards twice. Sean Landeta was a two-time champion, a two-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro.
Returners: David Meggett is the team’s all-time leader with 2,230 punt return yards and six touchdowns. The Super Bowl XXV champion and 1989 Pro Bowler also ranks second with 2,989 kickoff return yards. Tunnell is second with 2,206 punt return yards and five scores. Clarence Childs has 3,163 kickoff return yards, the most in team history. His two touchdowns include a 100-yard return in 1964. Toomer returned three punts for scores.
Special Teams: Zak DeOssie has been the team’s long snapper since 2007. He holds a family record with two Super Bowl appearances (his dad, Steve, played in Super Bowl XXV), and he is a two-time Pro Bowler. In addition to his “Helmet Catch” in Super Bowl XLII, David Tyree made the 2003 All-Rookie Team and was a Pro Bowler in 2005.
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-By: Kevin Rakas