Throughout the around 100-year history of the NY Giants, some pretty incredible talents have come and gone. New York has won four NFL championships pre-merger and four Super Bowls. Surely, they've had to have some all-time talent to achieve such accomplishments, right?
These 10 players all made massive impacts on the Giants during their time with the team - whether they contributed to a championship or were just incredibly dominant. With that said, here are the 10 best players in Giants history:
10. QB Phil Simms
Accolades: two-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXI MVP
He may not have as many insane accolades as other players that could have taken this spot. However, there's no doubt about how important Phill Simms was to the Giants' Super Bowl runs in the '80s and '90s. Without him, the Giants definitely don't have their 1986 Super Bowl, and likely aren't in the position for Jeff Hostetler to win it all in 1990 after Simms went down with a broken leg.
The Giants' defense may have been the shining point of both Super Bowl teams. However, Simms consistently led below-average offensive units to high levels of success. Alongside this, Simms consistently rose to the occasion come playoff time.
For example, in Super Bowl XXI against the Broncos, Simms completed 22 of his 25 pass attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Even prior to the Super Bowl, Simms had a game in which he threw for four touchdowns against the 49ers in the Divisional Round.
Being a quarterback automatically gives Simms a little nudge up into the Top 10. Being a great player in arguably the hardest position in all of sports is one thing. Winning a Superbowl while playing at an elite level in said game and setting up the Giants for yet another Super Bowl makes it easy to have him on the list.
9. LB Harry Carson
Accolades: nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time second-team All-Pro, one-time Super Bowl champion, NFL Hall of Famer
Harry Carson was an incredibly vital piece to the NY Giants' elite defensive unit in the '80s. While he'd retire two years before he could be crowned a two-time champion, his contributions to Super Bowl XXI will never be forgotten.
It's unfortunate that tackles weren't recorded when Carson played. However, we don't need to look at stats to understand how incredible of a talent he was. Carson was a member of both the "Crunch Bunch" and "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" defensive units. He may never have been the best player on those teams thanks to a certain someone who will be mentioned later, but at the end of the day, he was very important to the Giants Super Bowl hopes.
He often gets overlooked, but this is more of a good thing. The Giants' defense of that era is more remembered as the core they were as opposed to one singular player. Carson would spend his entire 13-year career with New York where he would make nine Pro Bowls and four All-Pro Second Teams.
8. S Emlen Tunnell
Accolades: eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro, NY Giants all-time interception leader, 1956 NFL champion, NFL Hall of Fame All-1950s team, NFL Hall of Famer
Being arguably the best defensive back in NY Giants history, Emlen Tunnell had a hell of a career with the Giants. While he wouldn't spend his entire career in New York, what he did during his time there was nothing short of special.
Through 11 years, Tunnell would snag 74 interceptions, which ranks second all-time in the entire NFL. Alongside this, Tunnell was also an elite punt returner for his time. Currently, he ranks 14th all-time in punt return TDs with five while ranking 20th in total returns and 31st in return yards.
Tunnell is both one of the greatest Giants of all time, and one of the best players his position has ever seen. It's not every day a team has a player who was the all-time leader in a stat when they retired. While Paul Krause would eventually overtake Tunnell for the all-time leader in interceptions, Tunnell was the leader by a wide margin when he retired in 1961.
The only knock we can really give Tunnell is that when he left the Giants for the Packers, he would eventually be a part of an NFL Championship team that defeated New York 37-0 in 1961. In all seriousness, though, Tunnell is easily the best defensive back the Giants have ever seen and we're incredibly grateful to have had such an incredible player suit up for the team.
7. RB/WR Frank Gifford
Accolades: eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, 1956 NFL Champion, 1956 NFL MVP and Player of the Year, NFL Hall of Fame all 1950s team, NFL Hall of Famer
There may not be a more versatile player in NFL history than Frank Gifford. We see now how players like Christian McCaffery can be an elite pass-catchers and a running back. Now, imagine if McCaffery did all of that, and played in the secondary as well. That's right, in addition to being the Giants' best runner and receiver for the majority of his career, Gifford racked up snaps in the secondary as well.
After being selected 11th overall in the 1952 NFL Draft, it didn't take long at all for Gifford to find his footing. While he didn't see the field often during his rookie season. Gifford would make seven consecutive Pro Bowls following that and would be one of the most important players on the Giants championship team.
In the championship game itself, Gifford would run the ball five times for 30 yards in addition to catching four passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. By the time he retired, Gifford racked up over 9,000 yards on the ground through the air while also scoring 77 touchdowns.
6. DL Andy Robustelli
Accolades: four-time first-team All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, two-time second-team All-Pro, 1956 NFL Champion, NFL Hall of Famer
Andy Robustelli may not have had the crazy accolades or longevity with the Giants during his time with the team. However, his importance in the Giants' 1956 championship run far outweighs any accolade. Following the trade that brought him from the Rams to New York, the Giants immediately had one of, if not the best defensive units in the league. Meanwhile, the Rams went from the best team in their conference, to the worst.
According to Pro Football Reference, in the final five years of his career, Robustelli racked up 52.5 sacks, which is just absurd. Considering that these numbers were put up between the ages of 35-39, we can only imagine the numbers Robustelli was putting up during his prime.
Without Robustelli, there is a very real chance that the Giants don't win their 1956 NFL Championship. The team had failed to make the postseason every year until '56 and it was and still is incredibly apparent how impactful the Robustelli trade was. This, alongside the drafting of Sam Huff, is what put New York over the edge.
5. C/LB Mel Hein
Accolades: four-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro, two-time NFL champion, 1939 Carr award (MVP), Hall of Fame All-1930s team, Hall of Famer
Similar to Gifford, Mel Hein is one of the most versatile players the NFL has ever seen. Not only did Hein suit up at center for the Giants, but he also spent a reasonable amount of time at linebacker as well. Hein is a player not many may know due to how long ago he played. Despite this, he still had a massive impact on the Giants.
Hein spent his entire 15-season career with the New York Giants and was an incredibly talented player for the team. A center or linebacker winning MVP is nearly impossible in the modern NFL. However, Hein played both and was the league's first ever official MVP winner. Just an incredible accomplishment all around.
In addition to being an incredibly talented player for his time, Hein was also a core member of two NFL championship teams. One in 1934, and the other in 1938. Hein made an All-Pro team each year alongside winning the Carr trophy in '38.
There aren't many stats regarding Hein's snaps at linebacker. However, according to Pro Football Focus, Hein snagged 10 interceptions throughout his career, which is rather impressive considering the era and position he played.
4. OT Rosey Brown
Accolades: nine-time Pro Bowler, six-time First-Team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro, 1956 NFL Champion, Hall of Fame All-1950s team, Hall of Famer
When talking about the greatest offensive linemen of all time, it seems like Rosey Brown is often forgotten about. Not only was he a top player on a championship team, but nine Pro Bowls and eight total All-Pro teams are just absurd. Alongside this, Brown's career was 13 seasons long, which isn't exactly common for lineman due to how much contact they absorb.
Brown may not have played extra positions like Gifford or Hein, but he didn't need to. Brown was a monster in the trenches that made opposing players' lives hell. For being selected in the 27th round, yes, that's right, 27th round, it's easy to say Brown had a more successful career.
His size and speed made him the premier blocking option for Gifford. In fact, Gifford had even stated that he wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame if not for Brown. It goes to show how respected he was by his peers at the time.
This sort of player is what championship teams are built upon. Hence why the Giants now having a high-level tackle like Andrew Thomas is so important. Adding this level of offensive lineman to a team can help build a special unit.
3. DE Michael Strahan
Accolades: seven-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro, NY Giants all time tackles leader, NFL single-season sack record holder, 2007 Super Bowl Champion, 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Hall of Fame All-2000s team, Hall of Famer
Throughout the history of the Giants, there are few players who were more exciting to watch than Michael Strahan. Not only was he excellent on the field, but his trash talk and attitude made for some truly exciting moments.
In his prime, there may not have been a more feared player on defense. Strahan's 22.5-sack season in 2001 is a record that still stands to this day. Some have tied, but it's yet to be broken and it will probably be a while before we see it be beaten.
If Strahan didn't have a slowish start to his career he very well could have pushed into the number two spot. However, in his prime, there's no doubt he's a top-three Giant ever. What he brought game in and game out couldn't be replaced. Not only did Strahan win the Super Bowl in 2007, but he was also a huge piece of the Giants' Super Bowl run in 2000.
Strahan was nothing less than excellent in both runs. In 2000, he racked up 4.5 sacks, 12 tackles, and a forced fumble in three playoff games. Alongside 2007, where at age 36 he tallied two sacks, 19 tackles, two forced fumbles, and three tackles for loss in the postseason. What a player and a true NY legend.
2. QB Eli Manning
Accolades: four-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year, NY Giants all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions
From start to finish, Eli Manning embodied what it meant to be a NY Giant. Even to this day, he still represents the team incredibly well. Whether it be the fact that he spent all 16 seasons in New York, or his countless iconic moments, there's been no shortage of love towards Manning by Giants fans.
Whether it be his throw to Mario Manningham, the helmet catch, Odell Beckham's one-hander against Dallas, taking down the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl - Manning has no shortage of incredible moments during his time with the Giants.
Some may disagree, but we have no doubt in our minds that Manning belongs in the Hall of Fame. No QB should be top 10 in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, while winning two Super Bowls, and not be in the Hall of Fame. That's not even including the context of the Super Bowls Manning won.
1. LB Lawrence Taylor
Accolades: 10-time Pro Bowler, eight-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1986 NFL MVP, 1981 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, NY Giants two-time Super Bowl champion, Hall of Fame All-1980s team, Hall of Famer
Was there any doubt? Not only is Lawrence Taylor by far and away the greatest player in Giants' history, he is also the greatest defensive player the league has ever seen. Taylor is one of two defensive players to win the MVP award post-merger and is arguably the most dominant player the league has ever seen.
You knew Taylor was going to be special when he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his rookie season. Following his rookie year, he went out and won the award yet again. After that, the rest is history.
Without Taylor, the Giants very well could be just two-time Super Bowl champions. His level of importance cannot be overstated. I mean, he's literally the best defensive player of all time so it's clear how important he was. Regardless, without Taylor, the Giants likely aren't looked at the same as they currently are as a franchise.
Words can't describe how dominant Taylor was during his 13-season-long career. The NFL has, and likely will never see another player like him. Thankfully for the Giants, he spent all 13 years in blue and not for an opposing team. For his career, he posted 142 sacks, including 20.5 in 1986.
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