In 1979, the Giants selected Morehead State quarterback Phil Simms with the No. 7 overall pick. The former Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year was George Young’s first selection as Big Blue’s general manager.
Simms got off to a slow start but found his form in his fifth season, helping the Giants reach the postseason with 4,044 passing yards. Through 14 NFL seasons, Simms helped the G-Men make the playoffs six times, but missed New York’s Super Bowl run in 1990 due to a broken foot.
He will always be remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XXI though. Simms was named Super Bowl MVP after completing 22-of-25 passes for 268 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The 39-20 victory resulted in the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.
Simms was also a two-time Pro Bowler. He led the Giants to a 95-64 regular season record and was 6-4 in the postseason. Injuries are the biggest reason Simms is not higher on this list. He only completed a full 16-game slate four times during his NFL career.
Despite that, he still one of Big Blue’s all-time greats. He has already been inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor. Simms holds the second most passing yards (33,462) and second most passing touchdowns (199) in franchise history, trailing only the next player on this list.