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History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
Encyclopedia
The New York Giants
, an American football
team which currently plays in the NFL's National Football Conference
, have qualified for the postseason seven times since 1994. With the retirement of Phil Simms
and Lawrence Taylor
— two of the most important figures in franchise history — after the 1993 season, the Giants entered a new era.
After a successful 1993 season, the Giants struggled under head coach Dan Reeves
, and failed to reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. With the hiring of Jim Fassel
as the team's new head coach in 1997, the Giants fortunes improved and they made the playoffs several times. Led by free agent acquisition quarterback Kerry Collins
, the Fassel era included an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV
, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens
. Although there was success, the Fassel era was also marked by inconsistency, and he was fired after the 2003 season.
Fassel was replaced by current coach Tom Coughlin
who has coached the team since 2004, also to inconsistent results and media scrutiny. The Giants acquired their current starting quarterback Eli Manning
via a draft day trade from the San Diego Chargers
. Manning had been the quarterback at University of Mississippi
, and was the first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft
. During this period standout Giants players include defensive end
Michael Strahan
, who set the NFL single season record in sacks
in 2001, and running back
Tiki Barber
, who set a team record in rushing yards in 2005. The Giants made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, from 2005-2008 (including a Super Bowl victory during the 2007 season), but missed the playoffs in 2009 and 2010.
named Dave Brown
, who had been a No. 1 supplemental draft choice in 1992, as the Giants' new starting quarterback. Though Brown led the Giants to wins in their first three games of the season, the Giants lost their next 7 in a row to drop to 3–7. The poor play of Brown received much of the blame from fans and the media. However, the Giants recovered and won their last six games of the season, finishing with a 15-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys
at Giants Stadium. During this stretch they never allowed more than 20 points in a game, and the Giants ended the season with a record of 9–7. The team's stars included Rodney Hampton
, who had his 4th straight 1,000 yard rushing season; second-year defensive lineman Michael Strahan
, and linebackers Jessie Armstead
and Michael Brooks.
In 1995 the team regressed further, losing even more players to free agency and finished the season with a 5–11 record, their worst since Bill Parcells' first season in 1983. Quarterback Dave Brown was particularly disappointing, as he finished with just 2,814 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Reeves went public with his desire to have more of a say in personnel matters. He controlled the team's free agency decisions, but feuded with General manager
(GM) George Young who chose the team's draft picks. Lowlights were a 35–0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys
in the Monday Night
season opener, and the fans pelting the Charger sideline with snowballs in the season's final game. Though the defense still played well at times, the Giants sent no players to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.
The Giants suffered through yet another poor season in 1996, finishing 6–10. Though Brown again started every game for the Giants he turned in one of the worst seasons of any starting quarterback in the league that year, throwing for 12 touchdowns against 20 interceptions. The Giants offense was one of the worst in the NFL and, unlike in previous years, the defense was unable to keep the offense afloat. After having one playoff appearance in four years, Reeves was dismissed after the 1996 season.
The Giants hired Jim Fassel
to replace Reeves before the 1997 season. Fassel had been the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals
and Denver Broncos
. After an opening day win against Philadelphia the Giants lost their next three games, including close losses to the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams. The Giants then won their next five games in a row. One of Fassel's biggest decisions during this streak was to replace Brown with second year quarterback Danny Kanell. The Giants won their next five game in a row to finish the season at 10–5–1, and win the NFC Eastern Division
for the first time since 1990. In the first round, the Giants struggled in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings kicked a late field goal to defeat them, 23–22. After the 1997 season, Young, who as GM had helped build New York into a championship club in the 1980s, left the team to take a job in the NFL front office. He was replaced by Ernie Accorsi
, a well–respected, veteran General Manager who had successful stints building the Baltimore Colts
and Cleveland Browns
.
In 1998, the Giants were unable to build on their successful 1997 season, and needed a four game winning streak to close out the season at 8-8. The Giants strength was their defense, which featured two Pro Bowlers in Armstead and Strahan. However, the offense continued to be a disappointment. Brown had been jettisoned and replaced by Kanell and Kent Graham
. Neither quarterback provided Pro Bowl caliber play, although Graham led the Giants to a 5-1 finish (including an upset of the then-undefeated Denver Broncos in Week 15).
Before the 1999 season the Giants signed quarterback Kerry Collins
. Collins had been the first–ever draft choice of the expansion Carolina Panthers and in his second season led the Panthers to the NFC Championship game. However, problems with alcohol, conflicts with his teammates and questions about his character led to his release from the Panthers. Mike Ditka
, coach of the New Orleans Saints
signed him after his release; however the experiment failed and Collins was released again. Although many people, including Sports Illustrated
football beat writer Peter King
questioned the wisdom of Accorsi and the Giants giving Collins a $16.9 million contract, especially when there was little interest for Collins's services league-wide, Accorsi was confident that Collins was a wise investment.
The 1999 season featured many strong individual performances by the Giants, especially on offense. Receiver
Amani Toomer
had a breakout season, accumulating over 1100 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Fellow receiver Ike Hilliard
also had a solid season, finishing just shy of 1000 yards receiving on the year. Tight end Pete Mitchell contributed 58 receptions, and Tiki Barber
emerged as a premiere pass–catching running back, catching 66 passes on the year. The defense was also solid, ranking 11th in the league and sending Armstead and Strahan to the Pro Bowl again. Though the Giants stood at 7–6 after 13 games, they lost their final three games of the season to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
was running back Ron Dayne
, Heisman Trophy
winner from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Before the draft the team was debating whether to select Dayne or Shaun Alexander
. The plan for Dayne was that the power running style he had at Wisconsin would complement Barber's speed and pass–catching ability. The two were dubbed "Thunder and Lightning".
After back–to–back November losses at home against St. Louis and Detroit dropped them to 7–4, the Giants playoff prospects were in question. In what would be his defining moment as Giants head coach, at a press conference following the Giants' loss to Detroit, Fassel guaranteed that "This team is going to the playoffs." The Giants responded, winning the next week's game against Arizona and the rest of their regular season games to finish the season 12–4 and earn a bye as the NFC's top seed.
The Giants won their first playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, 20–10. In the NFC Championship game faced the Minnesota Vikings
, who were appearing in their second NFC Championship game in 3 seasons. Many people predicted that the Vikings and their high powered offense, led by Daunte Culpepper
and receivers Randy Moss
and Cris Carter
would defeat the Giants and go on to the Super Bowl
. However, the Giants dominated, winning, 41–0. The win marked the second time the Giants had won a Conference Championship in their home stadium by shutout. After the game Giants co-owner Wellington Mara delivered his famous "worst team ever" speech:
Though the Giants kept the game close in the first half, and went into halftime down 10–0, the Ravens dominated the second half. Their defense (led by game MVP Ray Lewis) frustrated Kerry Collins all game long, resulting in Collins turning in one of the worst playoff performances in Super Bowl history. Collins completed 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards and 4 interceptions. The Ravens won the game 34–7 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls ever. The lone Giants score came on a Ron Dixon kickoff return for a touchdown. On the very next kickoff, the Ravens countered as Jermaine Lewis also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
. He broke the 17 year old NFL record held by Mark Gastineau
.
The 2002 season saw the arrival of tight end
Jeremy Shockey
from the University of Miami
, who provided Kerry Collins with yet another target. Collins would enjoy one of his best seasons as a pro in 2002, throwing for over 4,000 yards. Tiki Barber had his best season to date, rushing for 1386 yards and also catching 69 passes for 597 yards. The Giants started the season at 6–6, after which Fassel removed playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Sean Payton
. The team responded to win their final four games to finish the year 10–6, and secure a first–round playoff game against the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers
.
The Giants controlled the 49ers throughout the game, and with four minutes left in the third quarter held a 38-14 lead, which would have been even larger had not Shockey dropped a touchdown pass in the third quarter. The 49ers rallied however, scoring a field goal and three touchdowns—two on Jeff Garcia touchdown passes, one on a Garcia 14–yard touchdown run, and two two–point conversions made by Terrell Owens
—which gave the 49ers a 39-38 lead with a minute to go. Collins then drove the Giants down to the 49ers 23–yard line with six seconds to play, setting up a 41–yard potential game-winning field goal attempt by Matt Bryant. However, Bryant never got an opportunity to make the kick. 40–year–old long snapper Trey Junkin
—who had been signed out of retirement for this playoff game—snapped the ball low and punter Matt Allen
could not spot the ball for the attempt. With no other options, Allen threw it downfield to offensive lineman Rich Seubert. The Giants were penalized for an illegal man downfield (Seubert), and the game was over. However, after the game, the NFL recognized that San Francisco should have been penalized on that play as well for pass interference. This would have created offsetting penalties and given New York a chance to kick again. After the game a devastated Junkin said "I cost 58 guys a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I'd give anything in the world, except my family at this point, right now to still be retired."
The loss was Fassel's second devastating playoff loss in three postseason appearances; following the season, Payton was not retained as offensive coordinator. The Giants started out the 2003 season 4–4, but lost their final eight games to finish 4–12. This included seven consecutive losses in the second half of the season, in which the Giants failed to score more than 13 points. With two games remaining in the season, Fassel requested a meeting with team management, and asked, if he was to be fired, that they do so now rather than wait until the end of the season. Management complied with his request, and fired Fassel on (or around) Dec. 17, 2003. However in an unusual turn of events, the Giants agreed to allow him coach the team for the remainder of the season so long as Fassel assured them that the team would not "quit" on him.
After a brief search, Ernie Accorsi hired Tom Coughlin
, a one-time assistant of former Giants' coach Bill Parcells
, to be the Giants new Head Coach. Coughlin had been the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars
, and led them to the AFC championship game twice. He became the 16th head coach in franchise history. His stark, disciplinarian methods contrasted with the lax style employed by the departed Fassel. The Giants decided that their primary need was a franchise quarterback. Accorsi—who had coveted John Elway
when he was Colts general manager in 1983—saw University of Mississippi
quarterback Eli Manning
as a similar talent. Manning's brother Peyton
, and his father Archie
, had already established successful careers as NFL quarterbacks. Though Accorsi wanted Manning, and Manning wanted to play in New York, Accorsi was unable to reach a deal to trade up to acquire him with the San Diego Chargers
, who then used the first pick on Manning.
Manning had indicated before the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers, and appeared unhappy when selected by them. After the pick was made, Chargers general manager AJ Smith called Accorsi to make a deal. Part of the deal was that the Giants would select quarterback Philip Rivers
out of North Carolina State University
with the fourth pick overall and trade that pick, plus other selections (including the Giants first round pick the following year), to the Chargers for Manning's rights and additional considerations. When the trade was announced, the crowd in attendance at the draft (which was held in New York) cheered.
When Kerry Collins
made it known that he did not want to stay with the Giants until they eventually demoted him for Manning, the Giants released Collins. They later signed quarterback Kurt Warner
, to serve as the interim
quarterback until Manning was deemed ready to play. Warner had led the St. Louis Rams
to two Super Bowls, winning one of them. However, Warner had been affected by injuries, specifically a broken hand, which reduced his effectiveness and led to his release by the Rams.
was released. Dayne had experienced several mediocre seasons while Shaun Alexander
, who the Giants bypassed to draft Dayne, had developed into a consistent Pro Bowler.
The Giants won their first two games of the 2005 season, 42–19, against the Arizona Cardinals
and 27–10, against the New Orleans Saints
. The Giants lost to the Chargers the following week, 45–23, in a game which was marked by Chargers fans booing and jeering Eli Manning
. They rebounded the following week, beating the St. Louis Rams
by a score of 44–24.
On October 25, 2005, Giants patriarch Wellington Mara
died at the age of 89. Mara had been involved with the Giants since he was 9 years old, when he was a ball boy
for the Giants. The Giants dedicated their next game to Mara, and shut out the Washington Redskins
36–0. Just twenty days after Mara's death, on November 15, 2005, the other Giants Executive Officer and well-known businessman Preston Robert Tisch
died at the age of 79. The Giants then lost 24–21 to the Seahawks when kicker Josh Brown kicked a 36–yard game-winning field goal. They then defeated the Cowboys 17–10. The Giants defense made opposing QB Drew Bledsoe
go 15 of 39 for 146 yards with only one touchdown pass and two interceptions. On December 17, 2005, in their 27-17 home victory against the Kansas City Chiefs
, Tiki Barber set the team's single game rushing yard record with 220 yards, breaking the previous record of 218 yards, which had been set by Gene Roberts
on November 12, 1950.
The Giants won the NFC East title for the first time since 2000 with a 30–21 win against the Oakland Raiders
in the final game of the season. The Giants lost 23–0 to the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the playoffs however. The 2005 Giants had five pro bowlers, including Barber (who set a team record in rushing yards during the season), Shockey, Strahan, Defensive End Osi Umenyiora
, and Special teamer David Tyree
.
In late September it was also announced that the New York Giants, New York Jets and the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority had reached an agreement where both teams will work together to build a new stadium adjacent to the current Giants Stadium.
The Giants regressed to an 8–8 season in 2006. The season featured inconsistent play, criticism of the coaching by the media and players, and inconsistent play from Manning. The Giants won five consecutive games following a 1–2 start to gain a two-game advantage in the NFC Eastern Division, but then key injuries to the offense and defense took their toll. Frustrations with the lack of production and with head coach Tom Coughlin
began to surface as the Giants lost six of eight in the second half the season. The most disappointing loss of the season was a 24–21 defeat to Tennessee, in which the team surrendered a 21-point fourth-quarter advantage. Following a season-ending win at Washington, the Giants claimed a wildcard berth in the NFC playoffs, but were defeated in the first round by Philadelphia.
In his final season before retirement, Tiki Barber led the Giants with 1,662 yards and over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, Eli Manning threw for 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns and Jeremy Shockey led the team in receptions. Defensively the team struggled all season long with pass defense (28th in the league) and with gaining a consistent pass rush.
. The Giants became the third NFL franchise to win at least 600 games when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in an October Monday Night Football game 31-10. The Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13–10 in week eight in London's Wembley Stadium; the game was the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America. The Giants made the NFL Playoffs with a 10-6 record and played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. They avenged a third playoff loss from Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia by beating them 24-14. Eli Manning earned his first playoff victory and Tom Coughlin picked up his first playoff victory as coach of the Giants. The next week the Giants defeated their division rival and NFC top seed Dallas Cowboys
, winning their ninth consecutive road game. In the NFC championship, kicker Lawrence Tynes made a final field goal for a 23-20 overtime win over the Packers in Green Bay. This made the Giants 4-0 in NFC championship games, and they advanced to Super Bowl XLII.
In Super Bowl XLII
on February 3, 2008, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14. The biggest play of the game was on third down on the Giants 44-yard line with 1:15 remaining. They were down 14-10 After the snap, Manning ran back and was surrounded by a cloud of defenders. Escaping three near sacks, he made a miraculous pass to David Tyree, who caught the ball against his own helmet
, while being covered by veteran defender Rodney Harrison. This set up the Giants' final touchdown to win. Eli Manning was named MVP, completing 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards along with two touchdowns. The Giants pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history by handing the New England Patriots their first loss of the season and preventing them from becoming only the second team in the Super Bowl era to finish undefeated.Plaxico Burress
hauled in the game-winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to play to give the Giants the Super Bowl win since 1990. This game was also a rematch of their final regular season game, in which the Patriots came back from a 12-point deficit to finish the regular season 16-0.
A parade was held in the Canyon of Heroes of Lower Manhattan
two days after the win, followed by a victory rally across the Hudson River
inside Giants Stadium
in East Rutherford, New Jersey
.
The Giants won their Division again in 2008, with a record of 12-4 and earned themselves a first round bye and the #1 seed in the NFC. The Giants won 11 out for their first 12 games before stumbling to lose four of their final five including a 23-11 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round. Manning was named to the Pro Bowl after the season, in a year where he threw for 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Other standouts included Brandon Jacobs
and Derrick Ward
who both rushed for 1,000 yards, as the Giants led the NFL in rushing yards. Justin Tuck
led the team with 12 sacks, while Antonio Pierce was the team's leading tackler. The Giants featured a balanced offense with no receiver topping 600 receiving yards; the team also set a then-NFL record for fewest turnovers committed in the regular season with 13. The year marked a changing of the guard on the defensive line as Giants careers sack leader Michael Strahan retired before the season.
The 2009 season began with the Giants winning their first five games, but then dropped the next four. After beating the Falcons in overtime, they were routed by the Broncos on Thanksgiving. The Week 13 game with Dallas brought a 31-24 victory, but was followed by a 45-38 loss to Philadelphia. The Giants nonetheless remained in the playoff picture until being defeated by the Panthers in Week 16, and ended the year with an 8-8 record after a loss in Minnesota.
In the spring of 2010, the new Meadowlands Stadium was completed and the Giants and Jets opened it in August with their annual preseason match. During the summer, Bob Sheppard
the Giants' Bob Sheppard
, the team's public address announcer from 1956 to 2005, died on July 11. The 2010 season would be dedicated to Sheppard's memory.
In the regular season, New York inaugurated their new home by beating Carolina 31-18. Peyton outplayed Eli in the second "Manning Bowl" and the Colts won 38-14 in week two. Discipline became a growing problem during the early portion of the season. In the Colts' game, Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands, and in the next week's game with Tennessee (a 29-10 loss at home) New York committed five personal fouls. The Giants next hosted the Bears on Sunday Night and won 17-3. After a win at Houston, the Giants then won their next three games to improve to 6-2. Their Week 14 game with Minnesota was scheduled for Sunday, December 12, but the Vikings' stadium roof collapsed, and the game was moved to Detroit, where New York won 21–3. Against the Eagles in the next week, the Giants lost a 21-point fourth quarter lead and the game when Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson
returned it for a 65-yard game touchdown on the game's final play, in a match later dubbed the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands
." The Giants finished the season 10-6, but missed the playoffs, the first time since 1988 that the franchise had won ten games in a season without making the playoffs. This was the sixth consecutive season the Giants finished with at least a .500 regular season record (2005-2010), the team's longest stretch since the NFL-AFL merger.
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...
, an American football
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...
team which currently plays in the NFL's National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
, have qualified for the postseason seven times since 1994. With the retirement of 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...
and 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...
— two of the most important figures in franchise history — after the 1993 season, the Giants entered a new era.
After a successful 1993 season, the Giants struggled under head coach Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
, and failed to reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. With the hiring of Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
as the team's new head coach in 1997, the Giants fortunes improved and they made the playoffs several times. Led by free agent acquisition quarterback Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
, the Fassel era included an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. Although there was success, the Fassel era was also marked by inconsistency, and he was fired after the 2003 season.
Fassel was replaced by current coach Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin
Thomas Richard Coughlin is an American football coach who is currently head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League . Coughlin has led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin was also the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 1995–2002 and...
who has coached the team since 2004, also to inconsistent results and media scrutiny. The Giants acquired their current starting quarterback Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
via a draft day trade from the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Manning had been the quarterback at University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, and was the first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. During this period standout Giants players include defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
, who set the NFL single season record in sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
in 2001, and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
, who set a team record in rushing yards in 2005. The Giants made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, from 2005-2008 (including a Super Bowl victory during the 2007 season), but missed the playoffs in 2009 and 2010.
New era: 1994-1996
After finishing 11–5 and reaching the second round of the playoffs in 1993, the Giants took a step backwards in 1994. Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor, the two biggest figures of the 1980s and early 1990s, both retired. Several other key starting players were dropped from the roster due to free agency. In the wake of Simms' retirement, head coach Dan ReevesDan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
named Dave Brown
Dave Brown (quarterback)
David Michael Brown is a former professional American football quarterback who played for Duke University and later in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals....
, who had been a No. 1 supplemental draft choice in 1992, as the Giants' new starting quarterback. Though Brown led the Giants to wins in their first three games of the season, the Giants lost their next 7 in a row to drop to 3–7. The poor play of Brown received much of the blame from fans and the media. However, the Giants recovered and won their last six games of the season, finishing with a 15-10 victory over the 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...
at Giants Stadium. During this stretch they never allowed more than 20 points in a game, and the Giants ended the season with a record of 9–7. The team's stars included Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
, who had his 4th straight 1,000 yard rushing season; second-year defensive lineman Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
, and linebackers Jessie Armstead
Jessie Armstead
Jessie Willard Armstead is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for eleven seasons with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins between 1993 and 2003. He played college football at the University of Miami.-High school career:Armstead attended...
and Michael Brooks.
In 1995 the team regressed further, losing even more players to free agency and finished the season with a 5–11 record, their worst since Bill Parcells' first season in 1983. Quarterback Dave Brown was particularly disappointing, as he finished with just 2,814 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Reeves went public with his desire to have more of a say in personnel matters. He controlled the team's free agency decisions, but feuded with General manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
(GM) George Young who chose the team's draft picks. Lowlights were a 35–0 loss to the 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...
in the Monday Night
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
season opener, and the fans pelting the Charger sideline with snowballs in the season's final game. Though the defense still played well at times, the Giants sent no players to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.
The Giants suffered through yet another poor season in 1996, finishing 6–10. Though Brown again started every game for the Giants he turned in one of the worst seasons of any starting quarterback in the league that year, throwing for 12 touchdowns against 20 interceptions. The Giants offense was one of the worst in the NFL and, unlike in previous years, the defense was unable to keep the offense afloat. After having one playoff appearance in four years, Reeves was dismissed after the 1996 season.
1997–1999
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
to replace Reeves before the 1997 season. Fassel had been the offensive coordinator for the Arizona 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...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After an opening day win against Philadelphia the Giants lost their next three games, including close losses to the Baltimore Ravens and St. Louis Rams. The Giants then won their next five games in a row. One of Fassel's biggest decisions during this streak was to replace Brown with second year quarterback Danny Kanell. The Giants won their next five game in a row to finish the season at 10–5–1, and win the NFC Eastern Division
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....
for the first time since 1990. In the first round, the Giants struggled in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings kicked a late field goal to defeat them, 23–22. After the 1997 season, Young, who as GM had helped build New York into a championship club in the 1980s, left the team to take a job in the NFL front office. He was replaced by Ernie Accorsi
Ernie Accorsi
Ernie Accorsi is the former General Manager of the NFL's New York Giants football team. Accorsi had held the position from January 8, 1998, when he took over for the legendary George Young until his retirement on January 16, 2007...
, a well–respected, veteran General Manager who had successful stints building the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 1998, the Giants were unable to build on their successful 1997 season, and needed a four game winning streak to close out the season at 8-8. The Giants strength was their defense, which featured two Pro Bowlers in Armstead and Strahan. However, the offense continued to be a disappointment. Brown had been jettisoned and replaced by Kanell and Kent Graham
Kent Graham
Kent Douglas Graham is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. Graham played quarterback at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State University...
. Neither quarterback provided Pro Bowl caliber play, although Graham led the Giants to a 5-1 finish (including an upset of the then-undefeated Denver Broncos in Week 15).
Before the 1999 season the Giants signed quarterback Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
. Collins had been the first–ever draft choice of the expansion Carolina Panthers and in his second season led the Panthers to the NFC Championship game. However, problems with alcohol, conflicts with his teammates and questions about his character led to his release from the Panthers. Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
, coach of the 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 ....
signed him after his release; however the experiment failed and Collins was released again. Although many people, including Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
football beat writer Peter King
Peter King (sportswriter)
Peter King is an American sportswriter. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated and its Web site, including the weekly multiple-page column Monday Morning Quarterback. He is the author of five books, most notably Inside the Helmet, as well as a TV analyst and reporter...
questioned the wisdom of Accorsi and the Giants giving Collins a $16.9 million contract, especially when there was little interest for Collins's services league-wide, Accorsi was confident that Collins was a wise investment.
The 1999 season featured many strong individual performances by the Giants, especially on offense. Receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer is a retired American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a fan favorite.Toomer has also been a member of the Kansas...
had a breakout season, accumulating over 1100 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Fellow receiver Ike Hilliard
Ike Hilliard
Isaac Jason "Ike" Hilliard is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver for twelve seasons in the National Football League during the 1990s and 2000s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
also had a solid season, finishing just shy of 1000 yards receiving on the year. Tight end Pete Mitchell contributed 58 receptions, and Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
emerged as a premiere pass–catching running back, catching 66 passes on the year. The defense was also solid, ranking 11th in the league and sending Armstead and Strahan to the Pro Bowl again. Though the Giants stood at 7–6 after 13 games, they lost their final three games of the season to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
2000: Super Bowl season
The 2000 season was considered a make-or-break season for Fassel. Like his predecessor, Dan Reeves, Fassel had enjoyed great success in his first year, but disappointment in the following two seasons. The conventional wisdom was that the Giants needed to have a strong year for Fassel to retain his job. The Giants' big draft acquisition2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
was running back Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne
Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
, Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Before the draft the team was debating whether to select Dayne or Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
. The plan for Dayne was that the power running style he had at Wisconsin would complement Barber's speed and pass–catching ability. The two were dubbed "Thunder and Lightning".
After back–to–back November losses at home against St. Louis and Detroit dropped them to 7–4, the Giants playoff prospects were in question. In what would be his defining moment as Giants head coach, at a press conference following the Giants' loss to Detroit, Fassel guaranteed that "This team is going to the playoffs." The Giants responded, winning the next week's game against Arizona and the rest of their regular season games to finish the season 12–4 and earn a bye as the NFC's top seed.
The Giants won their first playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, 20–10. In the NFC Championship game faced the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, who were appearing in their second NFC Championship game in 3 seasons. Many people predicted that the Vikings and their high powered offense, led by Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
and receivers Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
and Cris Carter
Cris Carter
Cristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
would defeat the Giants and go on to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
. However, the Giants dominated, winning, 41–0. The win marked the second time the Giants had won a Conference Championship in their home stadium by shutout. After the game Giants co-owner Wellington Mara delivered his famous "worst team ever" speech:
Though the Giants kept the game close in the first half, and went into halftime down 10–0, the Ravens dominated the second half. Their defense (led by game MVP Ray Lewis) frustrated Kerry Collins all game long, resulting in Collins turning in one of the worst playoff performances in Super Bowl history. Collins completed 15 of 39 passes for 112 yards and 4 interceptions. The Ravens won the game 34–7 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls ever. The lone Giants score came on a Ron Dixon kickoff return for a touchdown. On the very next kickoff, the Ravens countered as Jermaine Lewis also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
2001-2003
The Giants were unable to build on their Super Bowl success in 2001, finishing the season 7–9 and out of the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Kerry Collins continued to have success as the Giants' starting quarterback, throwing for over 3,700 yards and 19 TD's. Tiki Barber finished as the Giants leading rusher again, while tying Amani Toomer for the team lead with 72 receptions. But the standout player of the Giants 2001 season was Michael Strahan. Strahan set an NFL record by recording 22.5 sacks during the season, and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year AwardNFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971. Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor, who won it three times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie...
. He broke the 17 year old NFL record held by Mark Gastineau
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...
.
The 2002 season saw the arrival of tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Charles Shockey is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
from the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, who provided Kerry Collins with yet another target. Collins would enjoy one of his best seasons as a pro in 2002, throwing for over 4,000 yards. Tiki Barber had his best season to date, rushing for 1386 yards and also catching 69 passes for 597 yards. The Giants started the season at 6–6, after which Fassel removed playcalling duties from offensive coordinator Sean Payton
Sean Payton
Patrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
. The team responded to win their final four games to finish the year 10–6, and secure a first–round playoff game against the NFC West champion 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...
.
The Giants controlled the 49ers throughout the game, and with four minutes left in the third quarter held a 38-14 lead, which would have been even larger had not Shockey dropped a touchdown pass in the third quarter. The 49ers rallied however, scoring a field goal and three touchdowns—two on Jeff Garcia touchdown passes, one on a Garcia 14–yard touchdown run, and two two–point conversions made by Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
—which gave the 49ers a 39-38 lead with a minute to go. Collins then drove the Giants down to the 49ers 23–yard line with six seconds to play, setting up a 41–yard potential game-winning field goal attempt by Matt Bryant. However, Bryant never got an opportunity to make the kick. 40–year–old long snapper Trey Junkin
Trey Junkin
Abner Kirk "Trey" Junkin III is a former American football linebacker, tight end, and long snapper in the National Football League...
—who had been signed out of retirement for this playoff game—snapped the ball low and punter Matt Allen
Matt Allen
Matt Allen is a former American football punter in the NFL who played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Troy State.- NFL career :...
could not spot the ball for the attempt. With no other options, Allen threw it downfield to offensive lineman Rich Seubert. The Giants were penalized for an illegal man downfield (Seubert), and the game was over. However, after the game, the NFL recognized that San Francisco should have been penalized on that play as well for pass interference. This would have created offsetting penalties and given New York a chance to kick again. After the game a devastated Junkin said "I cost 58 guys a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I'd give anything in the world, except my family at this point, right now to still be retired."
The loss was Fassel's second devastating playoff loss in three postseason appearances; following the season, Payton was not retained as offensive coordinator. The Giants started out the 2003 season 4–4, but lost their final eight games to finish 4–12. This included seven consecutive losses in the second half of the season, in which the Giants failed to score more than 13 points. With two games remaining in the season, Fassel requested a meeting with team management, and asked, if he was to be fired, that they do so now rather than wait until the end of the season. Management complied with his request, and fired Fassel on (or around) Dec. 17, 2003. However in an unusual turn of events, the Giants agreed to allow him coach the team for the remainder of the season so long as Fassel assured them that the team would not "quit" on him.
Eli Manning arrives
Tom Coughlin
Thomas Richard Coughlin is an American football coach who is currently head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League . Coughlin has led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin was also the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 1995–2002 and...
, a one-time assistant of former Giants' coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
, to be the Giants new Head Coach. Coughlin had been the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and led them to the AFC championship game twice. He became the 16th head coach in franchise history. His stark, disciplinarian methods contrasted with the lax style employed by the departed Fassel. The Giants decided that their primary need was a franchise quarterback. Accorsi—who had coveted John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
when he was Colts general manager in 1983—saw University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
quarterback Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
as a similar talent. Manning's brother Peyton
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
, and his father Archie
Archie Manning
Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, then for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings...
, had already established successful careers as NFL quarterbacks. Though Accorsi wanted Manning, and Manning wanted to play in New York, Accorsi was unable to reach a deal to trade up to acquire him with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who then used the first pick on Manning.
Manning had indicated before the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers, and appeared unhappy when selected by them. After the pick was made, Chargers general manager AJ Smith called Accorsi to make a deal. Part of the deal was that the Giants would select quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
out of North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
with the fourth pick overall and trade that pick, plus other selections (including the Giants first round pick the following year), to the Chargers for Manning's rights and additional considerations. When the trade was announced, the crowd in attendance at the draft (which was held in New York) cheered.
When Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
made it known that he did not want to stay with the Giants until they eventually demoted him for Manning, the Giants released Collins. They later signed quarterback Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
, to serve as the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
quarterback until Manning was deemed ready to play. Warner had led the St. Louis 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,...
to two Super Bowls, winning one of them. However, Warner had been affected by injuries, specifically a broken hand, which reduced his effectiveness and led to his release by the Rams.
2004-2006:Manning era begins
After losing the 2004 season opener, the Giants, behind Warner, went on to win five of their next six games to stand at 5–2. The Giants then lost two close games, to the Bears and Cardinals, to drop to 5–4. It was at this point that Coughlin announced that Eli Manning would become the starter for the rest of the season. Manning struggled in his first four starts, and the Giants did not score more than 14 points in any game. However, they played better in narrow losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Giants won their final game of the year against rival Dallas, to finish the season 6–10. Top performers on the season included Tiki Barber, who established a personal career high in rushing yardage with 1,518 yards, and also contributed 52 catches and 15 touchdowns. Following the season Ron DayneRon Dayne
Ron Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
was released. Dayne had experienced several mediocre seasons while Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Edward Alexander is a former American football running back who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Seahawks 19th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.- Early career :Alexander was born and...
, who the Giants bypassed to draft Dayne, had developed into a consistent Pro Bowler.
The Giants won their first two games of the 2005 season, 42–19, against the Arizona 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...
and 27–10, against the 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 ....
. The Giants lost to the Chargers the following week, 45–23, in a game which was marked by Chargers fans booing and jeering Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
. They rebounded the following week, beating the St. Louis 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,...
by a score of 44–24.
Wellington Mara
Wellington Timothy Mara was the co-owner of the NFL's New York Giants from 1959 until his death, and one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of the National Football League. He was the younger son of Tim Mara, who founded the Giants in 1925...
died at the age of 89. Mara had been involved with the Giants since he was 9 years old, when he was a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
for the Giants. The Giants dedicated their next game to Mara, and shut out the 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,...
36–0. Just twenty days after Mara's death, on November 15, 2005, the other Giants Executive Officer and well-known businessman Preston Robert Tisch
Preston Robert Tisch
Preston Robert "Bob" Tisch was the chairman, and, with his brother Laurence, part owner of the Loews Corporation. Tisch was born in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn in 1926. On August 16, 1986, he was appointed Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service, serving until February 1988...
died at the age of 79. The Giants then lost 24–21 to the Seahawks when kicker Josh Brown kicked a 36–yard game-winning field goal. They then defeated the Cowboys 17–10. The Giants defense made opposing QB Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
go 15 of 39 for 146 yards with only one touchdown pass and two interceptions. On December 17, 2005, in their 27-17 home victory against the 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...
, Tiki Barber set the team's single game rushing yard record with 220 yards, breaking the previous record of 218 yards, which had been set by Gene Roberts
Gene Roberts
Gene Roberts may refer to:* Gene Roberts , American editor and professor of journalism* Gene Roberts , former NFL running back...
on November 12, 1950.
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the final game of the season. The Giants lost 23–0 to the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the playoffs however. The 2005 Giants had five pro bowlers, including Barber (who set a team record in rushing yards during the season), Shockey, Strahan, Defensive End Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora
-2003:Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy State University, now Troy University. He was number 72. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with one start.-2005:...
, and Special teamer David Tyree
David Tyree
David Mikel Tyree is a retired American football wide receiver and special teams player. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse University. Tyree has also played for the Baltimore Ravens...
.
In late September it was also announced that the New York Giants, New York Jets and the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority had reached an agreement where both teams will work together to build a new stadium adjacent to the current Giants Stadium.
The Giants regressed to an 8–8 season in 2006. The season featured inconsistent play, criticism of the coaching by the media and players, and inconsistent play from Manning. The Giants won five consecutive games following a 1–2 start to gain a two-game advantage in the NFC Eastern Division, but then key injuries to the offense and defense took their toll. Frustrations with the lack of production and with head coach Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin
Thomas Richard Coughlin is an American football coach who is currently head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League . Coughlin has led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin was also the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 1995–2002 and...
began to surface as the Giants lost six of eight in the second half the season. The most disappointing loss of the season was a 24–21 defeat to Tennessee, in which the team surrendered a 21-point fourth-quarter advantage. Following a season-ending win at Washington, the Giants claimed a wildcard berth in the NFC playoffs, but were defeated in the first round by Philadelphia.
In his final season before retirement, Tiki Barber led the Giants with 1,662 yards and over 2,000 yards from scrimmage, Eli Manning threw for 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns and Jeremy Shockey led the team in receptions. Defensively the team struggled all season long with pass defense (28th in the league) and with gaining a consistent pass rush.
2007: Super Bowl Champions
In 2007, the Giants started 0-2 before winning their next six, making them only the second team in NFL history to accomplish that feat (the 1993 Dallas Cowboys were the other), and made the playoffs for the third consecutive season. In a game against the Eagles on September 30, the Giants tied the record for most sacks as a team in an NFL game, after sacking Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb 12 times, with 6 of these coming from Osi UmenyioraOsi Umenyiora
-2003:Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy State University, now Troy University. He was number 72. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with one start.-2005:...
. The Giants became the third NFL franchise to win at least 600 games when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in an October Monday Night Football game 31-10. The Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13–10 in week eight in London's Wembley Stadium; the game was the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America. The Giants made the NFL Playoffs with a 10-6 record and played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. They avenged a third playoff loss from Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia by beating them 24-14. Eli Manning earned his first playoff victory and Tom Coughlin picked up his first playoff victory as coach of the Giants. The next week the Giants defeated their division rival and NFC top seed 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...
, winning their ninth consecutive road game. In the NFC championship, kicker Lawrence Tynes made a final field goal for a 23-20 overtime win over the Packers in Green Bay. This made the Giants 4-0 in NFC championship games, and they advanced to Super Bowl XLII.
In Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
on February 3, 2008, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14. The biggest play of the game was on third down on the Giants 44-yard line with 1:15 remaining. They were down 14-10 After the snap, Manning ran back and was surrounded by a cloud of defenders. Escaping three near sacks, he made a miraculous pass to David Tyree, who caught the ball against his own helmet
Eli Manning pass to David Tyree
Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree was an American football play involving the two aforementioned New York Giants players in the final two minutes of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008. It was instrumental in the Giants' 17–14 upset victory over the New England Patriots...
, while being covered by veteran defender Rodney Harrison. This set up the Giants' final touchdown to win. Eli Manning was named MVP, completing 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards along with two touchdowns. The Giants pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history by handing the New England Patriots their first loss of the season and preventing them from becoming only the second team in the Super Bowl era to finish undefeated.Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
hauled in the game-winning touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to play to give the Giants the Super Bowl win since 1990. This game was also a rematch of their final regular season game, in which the Patriots came back from a 12-point deficit to finish the regular season 16-0.
A parade was held in the Canyon of Heroes of Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
two days after the win, followed by a victory rally across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
inside Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
in East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
.
2008-present
Brandon Jacobs
-New York Giants:Going into the 2006 season Jacobs stated that he studied film of famed power running back Eddie George in an effort to refine his running style. George, like Jacobs, was a large, power running back. In the 2006 season, Jacobs carried the ball 96 times for 423 yards and nine...
and Derrick Ward
Derrick Ward
Derrick LaRon Ward is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Fresno State University and Ottawa University...
who both rushed for 1,000 yards, as the Giants led the NFL in rushing yards. Justin Tuck
Justin Tuck
Justin Lee Tuck is an American football defensive end for the National Football League's New York Giants.A former standout defensive end for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Tuck currently plays in the National Football League for the New York Giants. His cousin Adalius Thomas was also a former...
led the team with 12 sacks, while Antonio Pierce was the team's leading tackler. The Giants featured a balanced offense with no receiver topping 600 receiving yards; the team also set a then-NFL record for fewest turnovers committed in the regular season with 13. The year marked a changing of the guard on the defensive line as Giants careers sack leader Michael Strahan retired before the season.
The 2009 season began with the Giants winning their first five games, but then dropped the next four. After beating the Falcons in overtime, they were routed by the Broncos on Thanksgiving. The Week 13 game with Dallas brought a 31-24 victory, but was followed by a 45-38 loss to Philadelphia. The Giants nonetheless remained in the playoff picture until being defeated by the Panthers in Week 16, and ended the year with an 8-8 record after a loss in Minnesota.
In the spring of 2010, the new Meadowlands Stadium was completed and the Giants and Jets opened it in August with their annual preseason match. During the summer, Bob Sheppard
Bob Sheppard
Robert Leo "Bob" Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the MLB New York Yankees , and the NFL New York Giants .Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years,...
the Giants' Bob Sheppard
Bob Sheppard
Robert Leo "Bob" Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the MLB New York Yankees , and the NFL New York Giants .Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years,...
, the team's public address announcer from 1956 to 2005, died on July 11. The 2010 season would be dedicated to Sheppard's memory.
In the regular season, New York inaugurated their new home by beating Carolina 31-18. Peyton outplayed Eli in the second "Manning Bowl" and the Colts won 38-14 in week two. Discipline became a growing problem during the early portion of the season. In the Colts' game, Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands, and in the next week's game with Tennessee (a 29-10 loss at home) New York committed five personal fouls. The Giants next hosted the Bears on Sunday Night and won 17-3. After a win at Houston, the Giants then won their next three games to improve to 6-2. Their Week 14 game with Minnesota was scheduled for Sunday, December 12, but the Vikings' stadium roof collapsed, and the game was moved to Detroit, where New York won 21–3. Against the Eagles in the next week, the Giants lost a 21-point fourth quarter lead and the game when Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
returned it for a 65-yard game touchdown on the game's final play, in a match later dubbed the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands
Miracle at the New Meadowlands
The Miracle at the New Meadowlandsalso called "New Miracle at the New Meadowlands and "Miracle at the Meadowlands III" is the term used by sportscasters and Philadelphia Eagles fans to refer to an improbable come-from-behind win by the Philadelphia Eagles over the New York Giants on December 19,...
." The Giants finished the season 10-6, but missed the playoffs, the first time since 1988 that the franchise had won ten games in a season without making the playoffs. This was the sixth consecutive season the Giants finished with at least a .500 regular season record (2005-2010), the team's longest stretch since the NFL-AFL merger.
See also
- New York Giants seasonsNew York Giants seasonsThe New York Giants are an American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are a member of the National Football League and play in the NFL's National Football Conference East Division. In 86 completed seasons, the franchise has won seven NFL championships, including three Super...
- Logos and Uniforms of the New York GiantsLogos and uniforms of the New York GiantsThe New York Giants have had numerous uniforms and logos since their founding in 1925.-Logos:Giants logos have revolved around three distinct concepts: a "giant" football player poised to throw a pass, the word "Giants" and variations on the initials for New York...
- List of New York Giants players