The 1988

1988 NFL season

The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....

 New York Giants

New York Giants

The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 season was the 64th season for the club in the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. The team would finish with 10 wins and 6 losses, but a loss to the New York Jets

New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 in the season finale would keep them out of the NFL playoffs for the second consecutive season. The season was marked early by the suspension for substance abuse of star linebacker Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...

 by the NFL for the first four games of the season. Following the end of the season, the Giants would see two longtime defensive stalwarts; defensive end George Martin

George Martin (American football)

George Dwight Martin is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career in the National Football League for the New York Giants...

 and future Hall-of-Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...

 inside linebacker Harry Carson

Harry Carson

Harold Donald Carson is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the NFL's New York Giants...

, announce their retirement.

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 4, 1988	Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...	W 27–20	76,417
2	September 11, 1988	San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...	L 20–17	75,943
3	September 18, 1988	at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...	W 12–10	55,325
4	September 26, 1988	Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...	L 45–31	75,617
5	October 2, 1988	at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...	W 24–23	54,601
6	October 9, 1988	at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 24–13	63,736
7	October 16, 1988	Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...	W 30–10	74,813
8	October 23, 1988	at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 23–16	45,092
9	October 31, 1988	at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...	W 13–10	38,354
10	November 6, 1988	Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...	W 29–21	75,826
11	November 13, 1988	at Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 24–17	65,324
12	November 20, 1988	Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 23–17	43,621
13	November 27, 1988	at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....	W 13–12	66,526
14	December 4, 1988	Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 44–7	73,438
15	December 11, 1988	Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...	W 28–12	69,807
16	December 17, 1988	at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 27–21	69,770

Standings

NFC East NFC East The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Philadelphia Eagles 1988 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1988 Philadelphia Eagles season resulted in an appearance in the postseason for the first time since 1981.-Player Selections:The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick...	10	6	0	.625	379	319
New York Giants	10	6	0	.625	359	304
Washington Redskins 1988 Washington Redskins season The 1988 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 11-4 record from 1987, when they won Super Bowl XXII. The Redskins failed to qualify for the playoffs. They were the seventh team in NFL history to enter a season as the defending Super Bowl champion and miss the...	7	9	0	.438	345	387
Phoenix Cardinals 1988 Phoenix Cardinals season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:**...	7	9	0	.438	344	398
Dallas Cowboys 1988 Dallas Cowboys season 1988 was the final year for Cowboys head coach Tom Landry. After the season, the team would undergo drastic changes including a new head coach, and change of ownership from the late Bum Bright to current owner Jerry Jones. Notable additions to the team that year include wide receiver Michael Irvin,...	3	13	0	.188	265	381

Roster

New York Giants 1988 final roster
Quarterbacks 15 Jeff Hostetler Jeff Hostetler William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:... 17 Jeff Rutledge Jeff Rutledge Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:... 11 Phil Simms Phil Simms Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number... Running Backs 33 George Adams George Adams (American football) George Wallace Adams is a former professional American football running back.Adams played college football at Kentucky and was a first round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.... 24 Ottis Anderson Ottis Anderson Ottis Jerome "O.J." Anderson is a former American football running back. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 when playing with the New York Giants... 44 Maurice Carthon Maurice Carthon Maurice Carthon is a National Football League coach as well as a former professional football running back.Carthon is currently an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs...  FB 20 Joe Morris Joe Morris (American football) Joseph Edward Morris is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants from 1982 to 1988. Initially noted for his diminutive stature — 5' 7", Morris was a key member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1987... 22 Lee Rouson Lee Rouson Lee Rouson is a former professional American football running back in the NFL for the New York Giants. NFL Special teams player of the year in 1986. He attended University of Colorado and was awarded Freshman All Big Eight, All Big Eight Honorable Mention and Blue/Grey All Star Classic...  FB Wide Receivers 85 Stephen Baker 82 Mark Ingram 86 Lionel Manuel Lionel Manuel Lionel Manuel, Jr. is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 1984 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 180-lb. wide receiver from the University of the Pacific, Manuel played in seven NFL seasons, and spent his entire career with the Giants... 80 Phil McConkey Phil McConkey Philip Joseph McConkey attended Canisius High School where he played wide receiver for the varsity football team and graduated in the class of 1975, is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants , Green Bay Packers , Phoenix Cardinals , and San Diego Chargers of... 81 Stacy Robinson Stacy Robinson Stacy Laddell Robinson is a former professional American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New York Giants. Perhaps his finest game came in week 13 of the 1986 season, when the Giants were playing the 49ers. The Giants trailed 17-0 at halftime, but scored three touchdowns in the third... 83 Odessa Turner Odessa Turner Odessa Turner is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for seven seasons for the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers... Tight Ends 89 Mark Bavaro Mark Bavaro Mark Bavaro is a former American football tight end who played for the New York Giants , Cleveland Browns , and Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League... 88 Brad Beckman Brad Beckman Bradley Scott Beckman was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1988 NFL Draft. Beckman was killed in an... 84 Zeke Mowatt Zeke Mowatt Ezekiel Mowatt is a former American football tight end in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. He played college football at Florida State University... 87 Tim Sherwin Tim Sherwin Timothy Sherwin is a former professional American football tight end in the NFL for seven seasons for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Boston College and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft....		Offensive Linemen 67 Billy Ard Billy Ard William Donovan "Billy" Ard is a former American football guard in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers...  G 76 Jumbo Elliott T 69 Joe Fields Joe Fields Joseph Charles Fields, Jr. is a former professional American football center and guard in the National Football League for the New York Jets and the New York Giants...  C-G 68 Damian Johnson Damian Johnson (American football) Damian Curtis Johnson is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons for the New York Giants and the New England Patriots....  G-T 60 Eric Moore Eric Moore (offensive lineman) Eric Patrick Moore is a former American football guard who played for the New York Giants , the Cincinnati Bengals , the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins . Moore was drafted in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He was a starter for the Giants in their Super Bowl XXV triumph...  T-G 63 Karl Nelson Karl Nelson Karl Stuart Nelson was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He was a member of the 1986 Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI. He missed the 1987 season due to illness . Nelson played college football at Iowa State University...  T 65 Bart Oates Bart Oates Bart Steven Oates is a former American football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played center for the Giants from 1985-93 and with the 49ers from 1994-95...  C 72 Doug Riesenberg Doug Riesenberg Douglas John Riesenberg is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He started in Super Bowl XXV...  T 66 William Roberts William Roberts (American football) William Harold Roberts is a former American football guard who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in three Super Bowls, winning two of them, each with the New York Giants . He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1990 season...  G Defensive Linemen 64 Jim Burt DT 77 Eric Dorsey Eric Dorsey Eric Hall Dorsey is a retired American football defensive end for seven seasons in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXV for the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was drafted in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft...  DE 74 Erik Howard Erik Howard Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League...  DT 70 Leonard Marshall Leonard Marshall Leonard Allen Marshall Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played twelve seasons in the National Football League . Marshall played defensive end for the New York Giants for ten seasons, then played a season each as a defensive tackle for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins...  DE 75 George Martin George Martin (American football) George Dwight Martin is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career in the National Football League for the New York Giants...  DE 73 John Washington DT 71 Robb White DE		Linebackers 58 Carl Banks Carl Banks Carl E. Banks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1987, had 39.5 career quarterback sacks, and was a member of the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team... 53 Harry Carson Harry Carson Harold Donald Carson is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the NFL's New York Giants... 98 Johnie Cooks Johnie Cooks Johnie Earl Cooks is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the second overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. A 6'4", . linebacker from Mississippi State University, Cooks played in ten NFL seasons from 1982-1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and... 54 Andy Headen Andy Headen Andrew "Andy" Roosevelt Headen is a former professional American football linebacker for six seasons for the New York Giants in the National Football League. He played college football for Clemson University and helped win the 1981 National Championship game.... 57 Byron Hunt Byron Hunt Byron Ray Hunt is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He played college football at Southern Methodist University and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1981 NFL Draft.He is the younger brother of former New England... 52 Pepper Johnson Pepper Johnson Thomas "Pepper" Johnson is a former American football linebacker, and the current defensive line coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-College:... 55 Gary Reasons Gary Reasons Gary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:... 51 Ricky Shaw Ricky Shaw Ricky Andrew Shaw was an American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Oklahoma State University and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL Draft.Current LifeShaw is now a teaching... 56 Lawrence Taylor Lawrence Taylor Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League... Defensive Backs 25 Mark Collins Mark Collins (American football) Mark Anthony Collins is a former American football cornerback and safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cal State-Fullerton.Collins also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay... 28 Tom Flynn Tom Flynn (American football) Thomas Jeffery Flynn is a former American football safety who played five seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1984 NFL Draft... 41 Neal Guggemos Neal Guggemos Neal Guggemos is a former NFL defensive back and kick returner. He was born on June 14, 1964 and attended Holy Trinity High School in Winsted, Minnesota. After high school Guggemos attended the University of St... 37 Wayne Haddix Wayne Haddix Samuel LaWayne Haddix is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and Cincinnati Bengals . Haddix was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1990 after intercepting his only seven interceptions of his career... 48 Kenny Hill Kenny Hill (American football) Kenneth Wayne Hill is the second of ten children born to former teachers Charley Joseph and Katie Mae Lewis-Hill. A former American football defensive back, he played nine seasons in the National Football League... 43 Terry Kinard Terry Kinard Alfred "Terry" Terance Kinard , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 200-lb... 46 Greg Lasker Greg Lasker Greg Lasker is a former American football defensive back who played three seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Phoenix Cardinals.... 36 Adrian White Adrian White (American football) Adrian Darnell White is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League for seven seasons during the 1980s and 1990s... 39 Sheldon White Sheldon White Sheldon Darnell White is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Detroit Lions, and the Cincinnati Bengals. He played from 1988-1993. He is currently the Director of Pro Personnel for the Lions.... 23 Perry Williams Perry Williams (cornerback) Perry Lamar Williams is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.Williams won two Super Bowls with the Giants....		Special Teams 2 Raul Allegre Raul Allegre Raul Enrique Allegre is a former football placekicker in the National Football League. In his career he kicked for the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, and the New York Jets. Although he was not known for a having a strong leg, he was a clutch kicker for the Giants from...  K 8 Maury Buford Maury Buford Maury Anthony Buford was an American football punter in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants. Buford attended Texas Tech and was selected by the Chargers in the 1982 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl ring as a member of the 1985 Chicago...  P 5 Sean Landeta Sean Landeta Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...  P 6 Paul McFadden Paul McFadden Paul McFadden is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He gained recognition at the collegiate level as a kicker at Youngstown State University... K