The NY Giants have seen several players with immense talent come and go over the years. Linebacker is no exception, as this position has arguably seen the most talent during the Giants history.
In the greater aspect of the NFL, likely no other team’s historic linebackers compare to that of Big Blue. Especially towards the top of the list. In order to, in our opinion, accurately put into order the top 10 linebackers of all time, there will be multiple different factors that come into consideration.
Something to keep in mind is that the NFL did not officially start tracking tackles until 1994, and sacks until 1982. With this some players have their tackles listed by official sites online, and others don’t. However, that doesn’t take anything away from the guys on our list. Here are the 10 best linebackers in NY Giants history:
10. Brian Kelley
While Brian Kelley, who posted eight sacks and 15 interceptions in 143 games, may be the most forgotten of the famous “crunch bunch,” he was still a nightmare on the field during his time. Despite not having any tackles recorded on official sites, older NY Giants fans will tell you just how great Kelley was.
After being selected in the 14th round of the 1973 NFL Draft, Kelley would not see the field that much in his first fall, only starting in six games. However, things would only go up hill for the 22 year old. After his sophomore season in the NFL, Kelley would start in every game he played in for the remainder of his career.
Kelley was a part of the legendary “crunch bunch” linebacker core. This featured some of the other players on this list whom of which we will not spoil. Despite never making a Pro Bowl or winning a Super Bowl, Kelley was a very special talent.
9. Gary Reasons
Accolades: two-time Super Bowl Champion
Up next is Gary Reasons (10 interceptions in 122 games), one of the more underrated members of the NY Giants 80s/90s Super Bowl teams. Despite this, Reasons played a huge role in both victories, most notably running for 30 yards on a fake punt in the fourth quarter of the 1990 NFC Championship against the 49ers.
Similar to Kelley, Reasons is another player who has very few stats recorded. This makes it somewhat difficult to determine just how good he was. However, after doing research, we can confidently say that Reasons deserves to make this list due to the role he played in both the NY Giants Super Bowl victories.
While Reasons would have a somewhat short career, only playing nine years in the NFL, eight came with the Giants. The impact he had on the Giants success during his tenure with the team is enough to propel him into the No. 9 spot
8. Antonio Pierce
Accolades: one-time Pro Bowler, 2007 Super Bowl Champion
While Antonio Pierce’s time with the NY Giants was short, only playing five seasons with the team, he was a total star for the team. Pierce posted 491 tackles, 33 pass deflections, four interceptions and much more.
After signing with the Giants in 2005, Pierce would begin his reign of dominance. He racked up 95+ combined tackles in four consecutive seasons while making a Pro Bowl in the process. In addition to all of this, Pierce would also play a huge role in the NY Giants legendary 2007 Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots. In that game, he posted 11 combined tackles in the Super Bowl and 25 tackles total in that year’s postseason.
However, after sustaining a neck injury in Week 9 of the 2009 campaign, Pierce would be released at the end of the season and would never play in the NFL again. He would eventually retire at the young age of 30.
It is very unfortunate that Pierce was forced to retire so early, as he was truly a dominant force in his prime. Pierce made an unbelievable impact during his five seasons with the NY Giants. While he may not be a career Giant, he was undoubtedly the heart and soul of the team’s defense that played a huge role in the NY Giants Super Bowl victory.
7. Pepper Johnson
Accolades: one time Pro Bowler, one time first team All Pro member, two time Super Bowl Champion
Pepper Johnson, recording 579 tackles, 10 interceptions, 19 sacks and nine forced fumbles, was one of the members of the legendary NY Giants defense during their Super Bowl victories in the 80s and 90s – playing a crucial role in both of the team’s victories.
Johnson was selected in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft, and despite not playing much during his rookie season, the NY Giants still went on to win the Super Bowl his rookie year. Following his rookie year, Johnson would go on to gain steam, posting at least 70 tackles in five of seven years with NY.
His best season arguably came in 1990. That campaign, the NY Standout posted 115 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception. He went to the Pro Bowl, and earned First Team All Pro honors. He really made a different in the Giants eventually coming out on top in the Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills. While he also suited up elsewhere, his best playing days were no question with NY.
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.
5. Brad Van Pelt
Accolades: five-time Pro Bowler
Up next is another member of the legendary crunch bunch, Brad Van Pelt (143 games, 19.5 sacks and 18 interceptions). Who, sadly, does not have any tackles recorded officially. However, his accolades and things we have read during research show just how special of a talent Van Pelt was.
During his prime, Van Pelt was a monster, making five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1976-1980. It is very unfortunate that the Crunch Bunch did not have much around them, as they only had one winning season when they were all together, making for one of the most underrated linebacker cores of all time.
Van Pelt would play 11 seasons with the Giants from 1973-1983, until he eventually left for the Raiders in 1984. He would play two seasons with the team before playing his last for the Browns in 1986. Van Pelt never won the Super Bowl with the team, but he won’t be forgotten soon about the great plays he made.
4. Jessie Armstead
Accolades: five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All Pro member, led the league in tackles for loss in 1999
Jesse Armstead (778 tackles, 40 sacks and 12 interceptions) was a truly a legendary talent for the NY Giants, making it all the more unfortunate that he was unable to win a championship during his time with the team.
Following his eighth-round selection in the 1993 NFL Draft, it would take a few years for the young Armstead to catch on. However, the moment he became a full time starter in 1996, his reign of terror began. He recorded 100+ tackles each year in the next five seasons while also making five consecutive Pro Bowls. He even coming in third for Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1997.
While Armstead did come very close to winning a championship, as he was a part of the 2000 team that faced off against the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl, the team would go on to lose 34-7 and Armstead would leave the Giants two seasons after. In his prime, Armstead was one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL.
Number 3: Harry Carson
Accolades: nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time All Pro member, 1986 Super Bowl Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame member
The first Hall of Famer on the list is Harry Carson, who recorded 19 sacks and 11 interceptions for the G-Men. He made nine Pro Bowls during his 12-year tenure in the NFL, being one of the best players on the NY Giants during their 1986 Super Bowl run.
After being selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, it would take a year for Carson to become a full-time starter. However, when he was ready, he took that role with pride, making nine Pro Bowls in the span of 10 years. He helped the NY Giants win the 1986 Super Bowl in the process.
Outside of Kelley, Carson is the first full-career NY Giant on the list, playing all 12 of his years in the league with the team. After retiring in 1988 at the age of 35, `Carson would be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
2. Sam Huff
Accolades: four-time Pro Bowler, four-time All Pro member, 1956 NFL Champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame member
Sam Huff (18 interceptions and 14.5 sacks) is a truly legendary player, as he was part of coach Tom Landry’s 4-3 defense, the first of its kind. Despite this, even outside of this new rendition of defense, Huff was still a tremendous player, making four consecutive All Pro teams following his rookie season. He came in third and fourth place for MVP voting in 1958 and 1959, respectively.
Despite having no official tackles recorded, it doesn’t take much to tell how special of a talent Huff was. While he would not spend his whole career with the Giants, as he opted to sign with Washington in 1964, the eight years Huff spent with the NY Giants was legendary. He not only won a championship in 1956, but Huff also made six Eastern Conference Championship appearances.
Huff is not a player we often hear people talk about when mentioning the revolutionary linebackers in the history of the NFL. Thisdoes not make much sense, as Huff was both a legendary talent, and helped introduce a brand new defensive scheme to the NFL.
1. Lawrence Taylor
Accolades: 10-time Pro Bowler, 10-time All Pro member, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner, 1986 NFL MVP, two-time Super Bowl Champion, league leader in sacks in 1986, Pro Football Hall of Fame member
There should be zero questions about this one. As not only is Lawrence Taylor the greatest player in NY Giants history, there is an argument to be made that he is the greatest defender in NFL history. His resume speaks for itself, as do the 142 sacks.
Taylor’s NFL career started off with a bang, racking up 9.5 sacks and an interception while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in his rookie season. This season would be backed up well, as in the following year Taylor would win the Defensive Player of the Year award yet again despite only playing in nine games.
No words can put into perspective just how legendary of a career Taylor had. Not only did he win two Super Bowls with the NY Giants, he is also one of only two defensive players in league history to win the MVP award.
Whether it be his physical dominance as both a pass rusher and run stopper, or his ability to create some of the greatest highlights we have ever seen, Taylor was a one-of-a-kind player the likes of which the league has never seen. Taylor spent 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the NY Giants. The things he achieved as a player is something every fan dreams of having for their team.