The NY Giants have had some fantastic quarterbacks suit up for the team. While there may not be a large quantity of QBs to play for the Giants, the quality at the position is what makes the NY Giants so special.
Whether they be a Super Bowl champion, MVP, or Hall of Famer, there have been some standouts who have really proven their haters wrong over the years. With that, they’ve of course made Big Blue supporters quite happy. With that being said, here are the top five QBs in NY Giants history:
5. Frank Tarkenton (1967-1971)
Accolades: four-time Pro Bowler, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
While Fran Tarkenton may not have had the longest career with the NY Giants, only playing with the team for five seasons, he was a truly special talent during his time with the team. However, the lack of success and longevity with the team is what hurt his chances of being higher on the list.
During his tenure with the NY Giants, Tarkenton would start 69 games. In these games he would throw for 13,905 yards and 103 TDs – not bad for the era he played in.
Tarkenton was a very talented player for his time. However, during his stay with the NY Giants, he would not see much success: posting a win/loss record of 33-36.
Regardless, the level of play Tarkenton displayed during his short tenure with the team was quite special, being enough to earn him the right to be the number five spot on the list.
4. Charlie Conerly (1948-1961)
Accolades: two-time Pro Bowler, one time Second Team All Pro, 1956 NFL Champion
Charlie Conerly is one of the more forgotten NY Giants all time greats, and this is likely due to how long ago he played. However, this should not take away the impact he had on the team, as during his 14 year NFL career, Conerly would lead the NY Giants to three NFL Championship Games, winning one in 1956 against the Bears.
In his career with the NY Giants, Conerly would start 105 games, throwing for 19,488 yards, 173 TDs and 167 interceptions. While these numbers are not the most impressive, the impact Conerly had on the Giants is something that will never be forgotten.
While Tarkenton may be a more talented QB than Conerly, the combination of team success, and longevity, is what eventually catapulted Conerly above him.
The main thing holding back Conerly from being even higher on the list is his lack of numbers. While he does have an NFL Championship with the Giants, he did not start a single game during the regular season that year. Despite this, Conerly played very well during the title game, throwing for 195 yards and two TDs.To have a QB like Conerly at fourth on an all time list shows just how talented the NY Giants QB room has been.
3. Y.A Tittle (1961-1964)
Accolades: 1963 NFL MVP, three-time Pro Bowler, two time First Team All Pro member, two-time NFL leader in passing TDs, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Despite not having much success in the postseason, Y.A Tittle’s level of talent in the regular season was unmatched: leading the NFL in TDs in back to back seasons while also winning the NFL MVP in 1963.
During his tenure with the team, Tittle would start 48 games. He would go on to throw for 10,439 yards, 96 TDs and 68 interceptions. While Tittle would often come up short during the playoffs, throwing for 1 TD and 10 interceptions in the four postseason games he appeared in, the success he saw in the regular season was truly special.
Tittle likely would’ve been much higher on the list if he had played more than four seasons with the Giants. However, his four season span of greatness is just enough to earn him the No. 3 spot on the list.
2. Phil Simms (1979-1993)
Accolades: two-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl Champion, one-time Super Bowl MVP
After being selected No. 7 overall in the 1979 NFL Draft, it seemed as if Phil Simms was destined for greatness right off the bat. While he may not have had the most statistically impressive career, the way Simms performed when it mattered most is what set him apart from most QBs during his time.
During his 14-season career with the NY Giants, Simms would throw for 33,462 yards, 199 TDs, and 157 interceptions, starting 159 games and winning two Super Bowls in the process. Simms would not start during the NY Giants second Super Bowl victory, though, after going down with a foot injury during a Week 14 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
The Giants would eventually get their payback in the Super Bowl after they took the Bills down 20-19. Despite missing the second of his two Super Bowl victories, the way Simms played during their 1986 playoff run was truly special. In three games played that postseason, Simms would throw for 494 yards, 8 TDs, and 0 interceptions. He not only defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in the Super Bowl, but he also won Super Bowl MVP.
When he retired, Simms was undoubtedly the greatest QB in NY Giants history, as not only was he responsible for the NY Giants first Super Bowl win, but Simms was also the holder of almost every NY Giants passing record.
1. Eli Manning (2004-2019)
Accolades: four-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl Champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, NY Giants all-time leader in completion percentage, passing TDs, passing yards and yards per game
There shouldn’t be a single doubt about this. After being selected first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, you should have known that Eli Manning was destined for greatness. It only took four seasons for Manning to win his first Super Bowl, winning two in his first eight in the process.
While the later years of Manning’s careers would be somewhat ruined due to poor management and personnel around him, he still put together some very solid seasons during his final seven years in the league.
Arguably deserving to be in the Hall of Fame, Manning ranks ninth all time in passing yards and 10th in passing TDs. In addition to his records, Manning is also responsible for some of the greatest plays in NFL history. Whether it be his impossible throw to Mario Manningham, or Manning’s unbelievable ability to escape a sack on the helmet throw, Manning never failed to disappoint in the big moments.
Despite having some relatively poor statistical seasons during the back-half of his career, Manning’s time with the NY Giants as a whole was very special and should never be taken for granted.