The 8 best NY Giants to only play one year with the team
Kurt Warner, 2004
After a legendary stint with the St. Louis Rams, the former Super Bowl Champion and NFL MVP signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Giants. He was brought in to be the starting quarterback as the team developed the number one pick in the NFL Draft – Ole Miss’ quarterback, Eli Manning.
Warner would start the first nine games of the season, leading the Giants to a record of 5-4. Then, with seven games remaining, the Giants’ future arrived – Manning was named starter.
Warner’s job then changed – he had to acclimate the young quarterback to the rigors of the NFL. While Manning grew up around the league, Warner was Manning’s first real day-to-day teacher at the position in the league.
Warner would leave the Giants after one year – ending up rejuvenating his career along with almost winning another Super Bowl as an Arizona Cardinal. Manning would go on to become the greatest quarterback in Giants’ history – winning two Super Bowls and becoming one of the franchises most beloved players in the process.
The move was brought back into focus when the Miami Dolphins benched veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for Tua Tagovailoa last season – Warner likening it to when he was benched for Manning.
"“I know what my man #FitzMagic is feeling, in 04 w/ NYG we were playoff team after 9 games (& i wasn’t playing as well as Fitz) when they moved 2 @EliManning – sucked 4 me – but I knew it wasn’t about that season but the future & I’d have to say it worked out pretty well 4 Gmen!,” Warner tweeted following the news."
In the end, it’s safe to say it worked out pretty well for the Giants and Warner both.