New York Giants Official Website

Harry Carson
Linebacker - South Carolina State - Enshrined in 2006

A defensive end in college, Harry Carson never missed a game in four seasons at South Carolina State. Selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, he was immediately moved to the linebacker position in the pros. Carson won the starting middle linebacker position halfway through that rookie season and went on to be named to the All-NFL Rookie Team.

An emotional player, Carson led by example both on and off the field. He led all Giants defenders in tackles five seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl nine times, including seven straight from 1982 through 1988. His best single-game performance came in 1982 in a Monday night game versus the Green Bay Packers in which he racked up 20 solo tackles and five assists. He accumulated 14 opponents' fumble recoveries during his career.

Carson, as an inside linebacker, was a ferocious run stopper. Known for his "all-out" style of play, he attacked onrushing blockers head on in his pursuit of the ball carrier. Later in his career when he was joined by outside linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks, there was no better linebacker trio in the NFL. Like Taylor, he was extremely difficult to defense in blitzing situations and he had the speed and agility to be an effective pursuit player, even when the play was directed away from his area of responsibility.

In 1986, Carson finished second in total tackles for the Giants with 118 in the regular season and 23 in the playoffs. He recorded the ninth of his 11 career interceptions, had two quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles, as the Giants went on to defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI.

Although he was a very consistent player, Carson seemed to produce top performances in key games. That was the case in New York's Super Bowl season. His interception and 12 solo tackles against the Washington Redskins on December 7 virtually assured the Giants of the NFC East title. It was also Carson who made the "big play" on the Giants' first-half goal line stand against the Broncos in the Super Bowl, when he stuffed Gerald Willhite for no gain.

In addition to his nine Pro Bowl appearances, Carson was named first- or second-team All-Pro six times and first- or second-team All-NFC six times.

Benny Friedman
Quarterback - Michigan - Enshrined in 2005
Benny Friedman, a two-time All-America quarterback at Michigan, played with the Cleveland Bulldogs (1927), Detroit Wolverines (1928), New York Giants (1929-1931), and the Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1934).   When he turned pro, the college football sensation was greeted with fanfare that was exceeded only by the media attention given future Hall of Fame halfback Red Grange when he turned pro in 1925.   A versatile player and field general, Friedman could run, kick, and most importantly pass the ball better than any player who preceded him and for many years better than those who followed him.

During his first four pro seasons, Friedman's play was nothing short of remarkable, earning him first-team All-NFL honors each season. Although official statistics were not kept, he is believed to have completed more than half his passes, at a time when 35 percent was considered a very good performance.   From 1927 through 1930 Benny tossed 11, nine, 20, and 13 touchdown passes, leading the league each year.   In 1928, he led the league in both rushing touchdowns and touchdown passes; no other player has ever accomplished that. His 20 touchdown passes in 1929, including four in one game, were both NFL records for years.

Following the 1928 season New York Giants owner Tim Mara purchased the Detroit franchise just to secure the services of Friedman.   Mara's decision was based not only on the quarterback's league-leading performances, but also on his all-important gate appeal.   He proved to be an asset in both categories, not only for the Giants, but for the emerging pro league as well.   Although very durable, a knee injury coupled with the rigors of serving as an assistant coach at Yale, Friedman's productivity dropped in 1931.   Still the player-coach managed to earn third-team All-NFL honors that year and second-team All-NFL honors in 1933.

Roosevelt Brown
Tackle - Morgan St. - Enshrined in 1975

Brown played for the Giants from 1953 through 1965 after joining the team as a 27th round draft choice, regarded as one of the greatest "sleeper" picks of all time. Brown held the starting tackle spot for 13 straight seasons. During that period, he was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was an All-NFL eight straight seasons. In 1956, when the Giants won the championship game, Brown was named Lineman of the Year by the Associated Press. Brown was known as a big, fast blocker who could make the block downfield. He was also used along the defensive front on goal-line stands. Brown helped the Giants advance to the NFL Championship game in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. After his playing career, Brown continued his Giants affiliation as a coach before being appointed as a scout, where he has served since the 1971 season. He was immediately named assistant line coach by the Giants after a phlebitis condition forced him to retire in 1966.

Frank Gifford
Halfback, Flanker - S. California - Enshrined in 1977

Gifford played for the Giants from 1952-60 and then again from 1962-64. He was known as one of the most versatile backs in NFL history. Gifford was the first pick in the draft by the Giants in 1952 after an All-America career at Southern California. He totaled 9,753 combined yards during his career. Gifford's record includes 3,609 yards rushing, 367 receptions and 484 points. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a defensive back in 1953 and as an offensive back the following year - a first in NFL annals. Gifford played in seven Pro Bowls during his career and was named All-NFL four times and NFL Player of the Year in 1956. He holds three Giants team records - touchdowns (78), highest average gain (500 attempts) rushing (4.30) and most receiving yards (5,434). A real triple-threat in his halfback heyday, Gifford threw 14 touchdown passes in 60 attempts on the halfback option. He retired after the 1960 season and then decided to return in 1962 at a new position, flanker. The Giants reached the NFL Championship game five times during his career, including the 1956 World Championship team.

Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans
Halfback, Fullback - George Washington/Oregon - Enshrined in 1978

Leemans played for the Giants from 1936-43. He was a second-round draft choice in the first-ever NFL draft in 1936 out of George Washington. Leemans was personally scouted by Giants co-owner Wellington Mara. Mara sent a telegram setting up a meeting with Leemans to convince him to accept a career in the NFL with the Giants. Leemans was the 1936 College Football All-Star game MVP. He led NFL rushers as a rookie in 1936 with 830 yards on 206 attempts. Leemans was named All-NFL in 1936 and 1939. An aggressive, dedicated do-everything team leader, he totaled 3,142 yards rushing, 2,324 yards passing, 442 yards receiving and threw 16 touchdown passes during his career.

Morris (Red) Badgro
End - Southern California - Enshrined in 1981

Badgro joined the Giants in 1927 and played nine seasons at end. He made a name for himself as a superior defender, excellent blocker and big-play receiver. Badgro was a part of the Giants championship team of 1927. Badgro helped lead the Giants to the NFL's first Championship game in 1933. He scored the first touchdown in NFL Championship game history in 1933. In the Championship game, the Giants spotted the Chicago Bears a 6-0 lead on two field goals at Wrigley Field. The Giants took a 7-6 halftime lead when Badgro caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Henry Newman in the second quarter. He tied for the NFL receiving title in 1934 with 16 receptions for 206 yards, including one touchdown. Badgro was named to the All-NFL team three times: 1930, 1931 and 1934. Before joining the Giants, Badgro played with the Red Grange-led New York Yankees. He played pro baseball with the St. Louis Browns for two seasons. Badgro has the distinction of being the oldest player ever to be elected into the Hall of Fame. Badgro was 77 when he was enshrined in 1981.

Sam Huff
Linebacker - W. Virginia - Enshrined in 1982

Huff was originally drafted by the Giants in the third round in 1956 after an All-America career at West Virginia and became an immediate star as middle linebacker. He played in five Pro Bowls and was named All-NFL four years. Huff won recognition for his great individual efforts against the premier running backs of his era, Jim Brown of Cleveland, Rick Casares of Chicago and Alan Ameche of Baltimore. Huff was named Outstanding Lineman in the NFL for his play in 1959. He anchored a defense that helped the Giants reach the Championship game in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. Huff was traded to the Washington Redskins before the start of the 1964 season and is currently a color analyst during Redskins radio telecasts.

Arnold Weinmeister
Defensive Tackle - Washington - Enshrined 1984

Weinmeister played for the Giants from 1950 through the 1953 season. He was one of the first defensive players to captivate the masses in the same manner a star running back or quarterback could. A big, extremely fast player with great ability to diagnose plays. Weinmeister began his pro career in the All-American Football Conference with the New York Yankees in 1950, and moved to the NFL during the 1950 merger. He played two ways in the AAFC, but was used exclusively on defense in the NFL.

Tom Landry
Coach - Texas - Enshrined in 1990

Landry played with the Giants from 1950-55 as a defensive back and was an assistant coach with the Giants from 1954-59. The Giants 1956 Championship team not only consisted of players that would eventually find their way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it also had a Hall of Fame coaching staff. Head coach Jim Lee Howell's staff had Vince Lombardi coaching the offense and Landry coaching the defense. When the Dallas Cowboys entered the league in 1960, Wellington Mara recommended that the Cowboys hire Landry as head coach. Landry coached the Cowboys from 1960 through 1988 and led Dallas to two Super Bowl victories and five NFC titles. Landry coached the Cowboys to 20 consecutive winning seasons.

Wellington Mara
Co-Owner - Fordham - Enshrined in 1997

Wellington Mara, along with CB Mike Haynes, coach Don Shula and C Mike Webster, made up the four-man class of the 1997 Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mara and his father Tim, who was the founder of the Giants and a charter member of the Hall of Fame, are the first father and son to be accorded pro football's highest honor. Mara, whose entire lifetime has been dedicated to pro football, has helped the Giants produce 17 NFL/NFC divisional titles and six NFL championships during his 61-season tenure that began with his graduation from Fordham in 1937.

Lawrence Taylor
Linebacker - North Carolina - Enshrined in 1999

Lawrence Taylor played for the Giants from 1981 through 1993 after joining the team as a first round draft pick in 1981. He finished his 13-year career as the No. 2 all-time quarterback sack leader in the NFL with 132.5. That total does not include the 9.5 he accumulated as a rookie in 1981 before the sack was an official NFL statistic. Taylor established an NFL record by appearing in 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981-1990. He was named NFC's Defensive Player of the Week nine times during his career (since that recognition was initiated in 1984) and was the conference's Defensive Player of the Month twice, in October, 1986 and again in September, 1989. In 1989 he was a unanimous choice to the NFL's All-1980s team. Taylor had the finest statistical season of his career in 1986 and it earned him unanimous selection as the NFL's Most Valuable Player. That year, he had a career-high 20.5 sacks, 105 total tackles, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. As a rookie in 1981, he set the tone for his Hall of Fame career as he earned every defensive and rookie postseason honor possible.

"On Sundays, there are a lot of reasons to go out and play. Ultimately, the reason you go out there is to hear those chants from the fans, those congratulations. Over the 13 years I played, they've given me a lot of things to smile about. I'm very appreciative of what they've given me."
Lawrence Taylor talking about Giants fans (Jan. 9, 1994)

"Thirteen years of enjoyable times. I've done everything I can do. I've been to Super Bowls, I've been to playoffs, I've been a dominant force. I've earned the respect of players and people in general around the country. That's what you want to do in a good career."
Lawrence Taylor following his retirement (Jan. 15, 1994)