NY Giants Football: 2010’s All-Decade team -Quarterback
By Matt Clark
3. Geno Smith
It seems odd to put Geno Smith on this list, given that he only started one game at quarterback for the NY Giants the past decade. However, that one game was so controversial, it will forever be part of the lore of the New York Giants franchise.
Prior to their 2017 week 13 matchup against the Oakland Raiders, head coach Ben McAdoo announced that he would be making a quarterback change. He decided to bench Eli Manning, ending his streak of 210 consecutive games started, in favor of Geno Smith.
Smith, who had not been a regular starting quarterback in the NFL since the beginning of the 2014 season with the New York Jets, was thrust into the starting role despite the objections of Giants fans. With the start, Smith would become the first African-American player to start at quarterback in Giants franchise history.
The results of Smith’s first start would not be memorable. He would complete 21 of 36 passes for 212 passing yards and one passing touchdown. However, he would lose two fumbles in the game and the Giants would fall to the Raiders 24-17.
Following the game, Giants ownership would succumb to irate fans and would decide to fire both general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo. Steve Spagnuolo would be named the interim head coach in McAdoo’s absence and he would name Eli Manning the starting quarterback the following week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Manning would remain in the starting role until this season and Smith would sign with the Los Angeles Chargers the following season, ending his NY Giants career after one season and one start.