As Hall of Fame voters continue considering some difficult decisions, it's becoming clear that the New York Giants deserve their representation in Canton. While Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin are the headliners, it is appalling how much the voters are overlooking former Giants linebacker Carl Banks in the Seniors category.
The Seniors category was narrowed down from 162 nominees to just 34 players earlier this week, so Banks remains in consideration for a gold jacket. The reason the All-Pro linebacker finds himself in a different category than Manning is because he retired before 2000.
Banks was a key piece of the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" in the mid-1980s and remains one of the most iconic defenders in Giants franchise history. He was a key piece of New York's Super Bowl teams in both 1986 and 1990, and he was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team.
His argument is clear.
Giants legend Carl Banks deserves his place in Canton
After being selected with the No. 3 pick out of Michigan State in the 1984 NFL Draft, the Michigan native made an instant impact with the G-Men. Against the Broncos In Super Bowl XXI, he totaled 14 tackles — including 10 solo — to help the Giants prevail 39-20.
Across 12 seasons with the Giants, Browns, and Washington, Banks amassed 39.5 sacks, 860 combined tackles, and 16 forced fumbles. However, he spent nine of those seasons in the Big Apple, most of which have defined his NFL legacy.
He was named both an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 1987 after logging a career-high 9.0 sacks and his second consecutive 100-tackle season. Banks only appeared in under 10 games in a season once in his career. which is a testament to both his durability and longevity.
The reason he wasn't talked about more is because of Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, but that doesn't make his own impact any less important. In perhaps one of the most dominant defensive eras in NFL history, Banks' name still stands out.
The 63-year-old is already a fixture in the Giants' Ring of Honor, so the next honor shouldn't be too far out of reach. Additionally, he remains incredibly vocal discussing Big Blue on social media, so he has maintained his fan-favorite status over the years.
Additionally, the Giants' fearsome pass rush is hoping to take a page out of the team's 1980s playbook, and Banks' impact is helping pave the way for the next great New York pass rush.
20 Hall of Fame finalists will be selected in advance of Super Bowl LX, and Banks' impact in clutch time is part of why he deserves his gold jacket. If not now, soon.