ONE
The NFL desperately needed the New York Football Giants, as they were known in 1925. The league wanted a team in the country’s biggest market in order for the sport to grow in America, so when Tim Mara established the team for $500, it ensured there would be a team in New York. In their third-ever season, they won the NFL Championship, before Steve Owen was then hired as head coach in 1930. He held the position until the 1954 season - winning titles in 1934 and 1938. Despite struggling financially in the early years, the Giants managed to carve out a space in the New York sporting landscape.
New York Giants Logo
TWO
Steve Owen was eventually replaced by Jim Lee Howell, who led the Giants to a championship in 1956. The team was later involved in one of the most important events in NFL history. The 1958 NFL Championship Game - known as ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’ - was the first playoff game decided by sudden death overtime, captivating the nation and thus boosting the popularity of the sport. However, New York were unable to capitalise on their fame, as they lost four more championship games over the next five years. Starting in 1964, the Giants didn’t make the playoffs for 17 years, and their fortunes didn’t change until they promoted defensive coordinator Bill Parcells, to head coach in 1983.
THREE
In the 1986 season, Bill Parcells and the Giants stormed through the NFC Playoffs - winning their games with an aggregate score of 66-3 en route to a 39-20 victory in Super Bowl XXI. In the victory, Phill Simms delivered one of the finest Super Bowl performances by a quarterback in NFL history, completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Four years later, Parcells and the Giants returned to the Super Bowl, but the victory wasn’t as emphatic as their previous appearance. New York won Super Bowl XXV after Buffalo Bills kicker, Scott Norwood, missed what would have been the game-winning field goal. Parcells retired after that second Super Bowl victory.
Bill Parcells, Head Coach 1983-1990
FOUR
Only two defensive players have ever been named league MVP - one of which was former Giants linebacker, Lawrence Taylor. Widely regarded as the greatest defensive player of all time, Taylor was known for his aggression, defensive instinct, and the fear he struck into the opposition. Taylor was part of a defense known as ‘The Big Blue Wrecking Crew’, along with Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson, and a young defensive coordinator named Bill Belichick. The Giants’ historic defense was the main reason for their two Super Bowl wins, to the degree that Belichick’s game plan for Super Bowl XXV is now immortalised in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Lawrence Taylor, Linebacker 1981-1993
FIVE
After Bill Parcells’ retirement, Lawrence Taylor made the decisions to hang up his cleats following the 1993 season - leading to the Giants reaching the playoff just twice in the nine years after their Super Bowl XXV success. That said, during this time frame, New York drafted multiple players who would go on to become cornerstones of the organisations - namely Michael Strahan in 1993, and Tiki Barber in 1997. Strahan would break the NFL’s single-season sack record in 2001, and Barber retired as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. Both helped the Giants to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV, where they were dismantled 34-7 by the Baltimore Ravens.
Michael Strahan, Defensive End 1993-2007
SIX
In 2004, head coach Jim Fassel was replaced by Tom Coughlin - who wasn’t a popular hire from the beginning, with players resenting his strict methods. However the head coach saw extensive success during his 12 years in charge - including the selection of quarterback Eli Manning. In the 2004 NFL Draft, the New York Giants knew they needed a franchise quarterback and had their eyes set on Eli Manning - the presumptive first-overall pick. However, the Giants had the fourth pick, while the San Diego Chargers held the first selection. Fortunately for the Giants, Eli made it clear he had no interest in playing in San Diego. However, he was still announced as San Diego’s first-overall pick - so one hour later, he was traded to the Giants for their fourth-overall selection, Philip Rivers, and other draft picks.
SEVEN
One of New York’s most important moments as a franchise came with Eli Manning at centre stage. The New England Patriots came into Super Bowl XLII undefeated - labelled as the greatest team of all time. The Giants, on the other hand, stumbled into the game - thanks to Tiki Barber’s retirement before the season and questions surrounding Manning’s play. New England led by four with less than three minutes on the clock. With 1:15 remaining in the game, Manning and New York’s offense produced arguably the most iconic play in Super Bowl history. Manning snapped the ball, and was almost immediately hit by a wave of Patriots defenders. Against all odds, Manning wriggled free and heaved a pass down the field toward wide receiver David Tyree, who caught the ball by holding it against his helmet as a defender tried to rip it free. The ‘Helmet Catch’ kept the Giants’ drive alive, and Eli soon threw the game-winning touchdown pass. New York had completed the most improbable upset of all time.
Eli Manning, Quarterback 2004-2019
EIGHT
Tom Coughlin’s success continued in the 2011 season, as he led the Giants back to the Super Bowl, where they yet again defeated the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in a 21-17 victory. However, the years following Super Bowl XLVI weren’t kind to the New York Giants. Tom Coughlin never made the playoffs again as their head coach and resigned in 2016 - prompting the team to go through three head coaches in the following six years. Star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. - iconic for his one-handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014, which was dubbed one of the greatest catches of all time - was a spark for the struggling Giants. However, his extensive injury troubles resulted in the receiver being traded in 2019.
NINE
Head coach Brian Daboll won the team’s first playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI in the 2022 season, with a team boasting quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. That said, the very next season was definitely one to forget, as New York finished with a disappointing 6-11 record, despite Jones' $160 million pound contract extension before the season. During the 2024 NFL Offseason Barkley controversially left the Giants to join the rival Philadelphia Eagles in free agency - leaving a gaping hole at the running back position. With the pressure on Jones’ arm talent growing, the Giants selected wide receiver Malik Nabers with the 6th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in an attempt to support their QB1 and bring a Lombardi Trophy back to the Big Apple.
Saquon Barkley, Running Back 2018-2023
BEFORE YOU GO
One of New York’s most recognisable fans is ‘License Plate Guy’. Known for the Giants-themed license plates he wears around his neck. ‘License Plate Guy’ has been to every Giants game (home and away) for nearly two decades - although the Coronavirus pandemic ended his attendance streak.
The franchise’s original home was the Polo Grounds, the team then moved to Yankee Stadium in 1956, then Giants Stadium in 1976 - which was actually located in New Jersey. Their current home, MetLife Stadium - which they’ve shared with the New York Jets since 2010 - is also located in New Jersey.
According to Forbes, the New York Giants net worth is estimated at $6.8 billion as of 2023 - making them one of the top 5 most valuable franchises in the NFL.
