NY Giants all-time starting roster: defense
By Zak Musso
DE: Michael Strahan
A no-brainer decision. No New York Giant has sacked the quarterback more than Michael Strahan. Strahan played for the Giants from 1993-2007 and brought the opposing quarterback down 141.5 times. He was the NFL sack leader in 2001 and 2003. His 22.5 sacks in 2001 are tied for the most sacks in a single season.
Throughout his Giants career, the legendary defensive end racked up some serious hardware. Strahan was the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, named First-team All Pro on four separate occasions, selected to the Pro Bowl seven times, a 2000s All Decade team member, and Super Bowl champion. Strahan played for only the Giants and is by far the greatest defensive end in Giants history.
DE: Osi Umenyiora
I pondered including Justin Tuck as the second defensive end, but Osi Umenyiora had the better Giants career. Osi played nine seasons with Big Blue and recorded 75 sacks, the fourth most in franchise history. Osi was a massive part of the Giants two Super Bowls wins in 2007 and 2011, and was part of two of the greatest pass-rushing duos in franchise history: Osi and Justin Tuck and Osi and Strahan.
In the Giants stunning 37-20 win over the Green Bay Packers in the 2011 NFC Divisional Round, Osi hit Aaron Rodgers three times and sacked him twice, catapulting Big Blue towards their second Super Bowl in four years. Despite playing with Strahan and Tuck in 2007, Osi was the by far the best and most dominant player on the Giant defense.