Erik Howard
Encyclopedia
Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football
defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League
. He played nine seasons with the Giants, and was a member of the 1986 Giants team
that won Super Bowl XXI
and the 1990 Giants team
that won Super Bowl XXV
.
In the 1990 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, Howard came up with one of the biggest plays in Giants history. With just over two minutes left in the game, the Giants trailed 13-12, and the 49ers had the game nearly wrapped up when Howard forced running back Roger Craig to fumble the football. Howard popped the ball loose with his helmet, teammate Lawrence Taylor
recovered the fumble, and the Giants went on to win the game on a last second Matt Bahr
field goal. They would go on to win Super Bowl XXV
seven days later.
Howard signed with the New York Jets
as a free agent in 1994, and played with them for two years before deciding to retire. He currently resides in Texas
with his wife and three children.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle who played eleven seasons 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...
. He played nine seasons with the Giants, and was a member of the 1986 Giants team
1986 New York Giants season
The 1986 New York Giants season was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football franchise's history. The Giants, who play in the National Football Conference of the National Football League , won their fifth championship—and first Super Bowl—in franchise history during...
that won Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
and the 1990 Giants team
1990 New York Giants season
The 1990 New York Giants season was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football franchise's history. The Giants, who play in the National Football Conference of the National Football League , won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl—in franchise history...
that won Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
.
In the 1990 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, Howard came up with one of the biggest plays in Giants history. With just over two minutes left in the game, the Giants trailed 13-12, and the 49ers had the game nearly wrapped up when Howard forced running back Roger Craig to fumble the football. Howard popped the ball loose with his helmet, teammate 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...
recovered the fumble, and the Giants went on to win the game on a last second Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
field goal. They would go on to win Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
seven days later.
Howard signed with 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...
as a free agent in 1994, and played with them for two years before deciding to retire. He currently resides in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with his wife and three children.