Lawrence Taylor played for the Giants from 1981 through 1993 and
was one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. An outside linebacker, he
retired with 132.5 sacks. Taylor played in 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981-90. He
was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1986, when he had a career-high 20.5
sacks and the Giants won their first Super Bowl. Taylor was enshrined in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Michael Strahan played for the Giants from 1999 through 2007. A
defensive end, he is one of just three players in Giants history to play 15 seasons for the
team and his 216 regular season games are a franchise record. When Strahan retired,
his 141.5 sacks were not only a Giants record, but were the fifth-highest total in NFL
history. He set a league single-season record with 22.5 sacks in 2001.
Harry Carson played for the Giants from 1976-88. He led the Giants
in tackles six times, was a two-time All-NFL selection and was a captain of the 1986
Super Bowl champions. An inside linebacker, Carson was selected to play in nine Pro
Bowls. During his prime, he was the best run-stopping in the NFL. Carson was
enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Game in 2006.
Phil Simms is the most productive quarterback in Giants history. He
played his entire career for the Giants from 1979-93. Simms holds every important
Giants career passing record, including attempts (4,647), completions (2,576), yards
(33,462) and touchdowns (199). He was the MVP of Super Bowl XXI, when he
completed 22 of 25 passes in a 39-20 rout of the Denver Broncos.
Mark Bavaro joined the Giants as a fourth-round draft choice in 1985
and quickly became one of the NFL's finest tight ends. The Giants won two Super Bowls
in Bavaro's six seasons with the club. Bavaro ranks 10th in franchise history with 266
receptions. His finest season was 1986, when he caught 66 passes for 1,001 yards and
was voted to the first of two consecutive Pro Bowls.
Brad Van Pelt played for the Giants from 1973-83. He was a member
of the famed "Crunch Bunch" group of linebackers with Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor
and Brian Kelley. Van Pelt was selected to five Pro Bowls from 1976-80 and was the
Giants' Player of the Decade for the 1970s. He died of a heart attack on Feb. 17,
2009.
Tiki Barber joined the Giants as a second-round draft choice in 1997
and became the most productive running back in team history in his 10 seasons with the
club. Barber holds the franchise record for rushing yards (10,449) and total yards
(17,359). Barber was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his final three seasons.
Amani Toomer played for the Giants from 1996 to 2008. He played
in 190 regular season games, the fourth-highest total in franchise history. Toomer holds
Giants records for receptions (668), yards (9,497), receiving touchdowns (54) and 100-
yard games (22). He was a member of the Giants' team that won Super Bowl
XLII.
Rodney Hampton was the Giants' first-round draft choice in 1990.
He played his entire eight-year career with the team. Hampton rushed for more than
1,000 yards in five consecutive seasons (1991-95). When he retired after the 1997
season, his 6,897 yards were a franchise record.
George Martin played for the Giants from 1975-88 and was one of
the most popular defensive ends in franchise history. He is one of only three players in
franchise history to play in more than 200 regular season games (201) and he missed
just six non-strike games in his 14 seasons. His 78-yard interception return vs. Denver
in 1986 has been called by Bill Parcells, "the greatest football play I've ever seen.
Joe Morris played for the Giants from 1982-89. Although he was only
5-7, Morris was one of the most productive running backs in Giants history. He led the
team in rushing every year from 1985-88.. Morris rushed for a career-high 1,516 yards
in 1986, the Giants' first Super Bowl season.. His 21 touchdowns in 1985 is still the
franchise record.
Carl Banks was the second overall selection in the 1984 NFL Draft.
The Giants won two Super Bowls during his tenure with the team, which ended after the
1992 season. Banks 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. He had 14 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in the
Giants' victory over Denver in Super Bowl XXI.
Jessie Armstead was an eighth-round draft choice in 1993, the last
year the NFL included an eighth round in the draft. A swift and punishing outside
linebacker and team leader, Armstead had 752 career tackles, 40 sacks and 12
interceptions for 175 yards. He was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1997-
2001. On June 13, 2007, Armstead signed a one-day contract to officially retire a
Giant.
Eli Manning was the first overall choice of the 2004 NFL Draft and
was quickly obtained in a trade by the Giants from San Diego. He is the only
quarterback in Giants history with four consecutive seasons of 3,000 passing yards and
20 touchdown passes. He was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XLII, when his
touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining gave the Giants an
upset victory over previously undefeated New England.
Bart Oates played for the Giants from 1985-93. He was the center on
the famed Suburbanites offensive line that included guards Chris Godfrey and Bill Ard
and tackles Karl Nelson and Brad Benson. He was
extremely durable, starting 125 consecutive games during his Giants career.
Oates played on two Super Bowl-winning teams (1986 and 1990) and was
selected to three Pro Bowls (1990, 91 and 93).