NY Giants all-time starting roster: defense

The NY Giants are one of the NFL's premiere franchises. Big Blue has 29 Hall of Famers, four Super Bowl championships, and the greatest defensive football player ever.

When you think of the greatest seasons in Giants history, three traits come to mind: tough, physical, and gritty. Those three traits come to mind because all successful Giants teams in the franchise's 98-year history have had stout defenses. Few franchises boast the all-time greats the Giants do on defense.

The Giants all-time starting defense would go toe-to-toe with every other franchise's all-time defense. There were certainly some tough cuts, but here is the Giants all-time starting defense:

DT: Leonard Marshall

Leonard Marshall is one of the most underrated players in Giants history. Marshall played 10 seasons with Big Blue from 1983-1992. During his career in New York, Marshall won two Super Bowls, racked up 79.5 sacks, third most in Giants history, 660 tackles, six fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.

Marshall played on a Giants defense that also featured Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. If he had played on a team without those two New York icons, he would not have been overshadowed and given the recognition he truly deserves.

The moment Marshall is most famous for is a hit he delivered on Joe Montana in the 1991 NFC Championship Game. Marshall is a Big Blue legend and one of the best defenders we've ever seen. What a talent he was.