The 10 best safeties in the history of the NY Giants

The NY Giants have a storied franchise history that dates back to 1925. Since that time, the team has pumped out some of the greatest defensive backs in NFL history. Among these players, some of them have left an enduring legacy on the game.

Although the role of safeties has changed over the years, they are one of the most important positions on the field. They are responsible for making tackles in the open field and guarding wide receivers and tight ends depending on what coverage the defense is in. We already ranked Big Blue's Top 10 cornerbacks, but we're now shifting to the Top 10 safeties to play for the Giants.

Criteria for selection

There are a handful of Giants on this list who played 50+ years ago. Statistics were recorded differently back then — even tackles were not deemed an official NFL statistic until the 21st century. Simply comparing those stats to players who compete in the modern era would be foolish.

Because of this, we used All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections during the players’ Giants tenure as a means to gauge where they belong stacked up to others. We also took into account how long they spent in NY and how the team performed while they were on the roster.

As we mentioned in our article about the Top 10 cornerbacks in Giants history, there will be some players that didn't qualify for this list because they played on the outside more. While there are a few safeties on this list who played one or two years as a corner, safety was their primary position.

Now, let’s begin the Top 10 safeties list for the NY Giants with our No. 10 spot.

The Top 10 safeties in NY Giants history

10. Gibril Wilson

Kicking off the list is Gibril Wilson, who was selected by the G-Men in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He became a full-time starter by Year 2 after playing sparingly as a rookie, but would eventually sign a massive contract with the Raiders in free agency at the end of his rookie deal.

While he wasn't spectacular on the field and didn't garner many individual accomplishments, Wilson still was a vital component of the Giants' defense for several years, including when they defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. He was an above-average tackler and finished his four-year NY tenure with 365 combined tackles, 11 interceptions, six forced fumbles, and six sacks.

9. Terry Kinard

The German native was selected No. 10 overall in the 1983 NFL Draft after earning All-American honors twice in college. While he did not live up to the superstar potential he showed at Clemson, he turned in a respectable NFL career with the Giants. He totaled 27 interceptions and six fumble recoveries in seven seasons.

Terry Kinard was a vital defensive piece on some of the Bill Parcells-led Giants teams, playing at a high level when Big Blue won the Super Bowl in 1986 and earning a Pro Bowl selection at age 29 two years later. He landed in NY the same year Parcells signed to be the head coach and stayed with him for all but one of his seasons.

8. Frank Reagan

Frank Reagan is a historic Giants safety who had to serve in the military, but his deployment resulted in him missing four consecutive seasons and returning to the NFL at 27 years old. Impressively, he still managed to lead the league in interceptions (10) in his second year back from the war en route to one of the most outstanding single-season performances by an NY safety.

Across 32 games and four campaigns with the team from 1941 and 1946-1948, he finished with 20 interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The versatile Reagan also punted, played running back, and returned kicks during his G-Men tenure.

7. Landon Collins

Landon Collins is a name that is still fresh in the heads of Big Blue fans after he spent the 2015-2018 seasons with the team. He immediately made an impact in the league, serving as the pillar of one of the league's best defenses in 2016 when he was an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and finished third in DPOY voting. He made the Pro Bowl in back-to-back years before signing with Washington in 2019.

The Alabama product returned to NY in 2022 on a practice squad deal, but only played six games and has not returned to the league since. Had Collins’ career not been mired by injuries, he could have cemented himself as a legend in the Giants’ history books. Still, he was terrific when healthy and undoubtedly deserves a spot in the Top 10. 

6. Otto Schnellbacher

After spending two years in the U.S. Army, Otto Schnellbacher played in the NFL from 1948-1951 and enjoyed tremendous success. He played basketball and football at the University of Kansas, but ultimately decided to stick with the latter.

Schnellbacher could have cracked the Top 10 with his unique name alone, but he was also an excellent player during his two seasons in NY. The dual-sport athlete was a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 1951 when he led the NFL with 11 interceptions and two pick-sixes. Considering he caught a pick in nearly 80 percent of his games with the Giants, Schnellbacher was an easy choice to make this list.

5. Antrel Rolle

NY made Antrel Rolle the highest-paid safety in league history once he hit free agency. The former Miami Hurricanes superstar was a hard-hitter who wasn't afraid to put his body on the line to help the team win. He spent his prime years in NY from 2010-2014, earning two Pro Bowl and All-Pro appearances during that span.

Across five seasons, Rolle recorded 464 tackles and 14 interceptions during his G-Men tenure. Additionally, he was one of the best players on the team when Tom Coughlin and Co. went all the way to win Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots. Rolle had an accomplished career in NY and will be remembered by fans for a long time.

4. Tom Landry

You probably know Tom Landry as one of the most prolific and successful head coaches in NFL history, but he first made a name for himself on the gridiron for the Cowboys' arch-nemesis in NY. Landry was such a great football mind that he served as the team's defensive coordinator for two years while still playing — his first and only All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections came during his first campaign as DC.

He was a jack of all trades with Big Blue, punting and often serving as a running back. However, his primary position was safety, where he recorded 31 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns across six seasons. Landry is a legend in every facet of the game and left a lasting impact on both the Giants and the game of football.

3. Carl Lockhart

Carl Lockhart, nicknamed "Spider" by the player who finished No. 1 on this list, was a Giant through thick and thin. He played on some subpar squads, but spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Giants, making him one of the most well-liked and recognizable defensive backs in franchise history.

Spider was the epitome of consistency, missing just nine games during his career and posting impressive stats year in and year out. He was named a Pro Bowler in 1966 and 1968, posting his best numbers during his first few seasons. His 41 interceptions in NY rank third on the team's all-time list.

2. Jimmy Patton

Jimmy Patton is one of the most accomplished Giants in team history. The eighth-round draft pick was a superstar by his fourth season in the NFL — he enjoyed an unreal stretch from 1958-1962 in which he tallied 37 interceptions, five first-team All-Pro appearances, and five Pro Bowl nods, all while reaching four NFL Championship games despite losing them all.

He finished his career with 52 interceptions and one championship ring, spending all 12 years in NY. At the time of his retirement, Patton was one of the best defensive backs the game had ever seen. Not long ago, the Giants inducted Patton into the franchise's Ring of Honor.

1. Emlen Tunnell

While all of the players on this list had terrific careers in their own right, none can rival the illustrious accolades of Emlen Tunnell. Tunnell is not only the best safety in Giants history — he is even a Top 10 safety in NFL history.

His 74 interceptions with the franchise are the most ever recorded by a Giant. In fact, he has the second-most interceptions in NFL history, falling shy of Paul Krause's 81. He made eight Pro Bowl appearances, six first-team All-Pro teams, and won championships in 1956 and 1961. Tunnell was the first African-American to ever play for NY and also became the first to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He is an NFL legend who will always be remembered in the history books. Tunnell is undeniably the best safety to ever play for the Giants.