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Ranking the Top 10 linebackers in NY Giants history

By Desmond Novack

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor (L) and Harry Carson talk during a halftime ceremony of a game between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts on November 3, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Colts defeated the Giants 40-24. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor (L) and Harry Carson talk during a halftime ceremony of a game between the New York Giants and the Indianapolis Colts on November 3, 2014 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Colts defeated the Giants 40-24. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 21: Former New York Giants star Carl Banks meets with former San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice before the New York Giants vs The Minnesota Vikings game at MetLife Stadium on October 21, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 21: Former New York Giants star Carl Banks meets with former San Francisco 49ers great Jerry Rice before the New York Giants vs The Minnesota Vikings game at MetLife Stadium on October 21, 2013 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage) /

6. Carl Banks

Accolades: one time Pro Bowler, one time first team All Pro member, two time Super Bowl Champion

Featured in the same legendary linebacker core as Pepper Johnson was Carl Banks (627 tackles, 36 sacks and three interceptions) who played on the outside. However, what put Banks over Johnson was that he played two more seasons with the NY Giants and was arguably a better player in his prime.

What makes Banks different than any other player on this list so far is how high he was drafted. Banks was selected No. 3 overall in the 1984 NFL Draft. However, he only started in four games his rookie season. Despite this slow start, Banks would break out in his third season and showcase the star talent that made him worth being selected so high.

During his tenure with the NY Giants, Banks would have 60+ combined tackles in six out of his nine seasons with the team, including back to back 100+ tackle seasons in 1986and 1987. The ’87 fall would mark arguably Banks’ best season in the league, as he would rack up 101 tackles, nine sacks, and one interception.

That year, he made his first career Pro Bowl, and earned First Team All Pro honors. Banks would play nine seasons with the NY Giants before opting to sign with Washington in 1993. He would go play three more seasons in the league before retiring at the age of 33.

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