Skip to main content
New York Giants homepage
Advertising

Giants News | New York Giants – Giants.com

Giants Now

Presented by

Giants Now: Tom Pelissero names Carl Banks among most underrated LBs in NFL history

_1920x1080GNOW

Tom Pelissero names Carl Banks among most underrated LBs in NFL history

During the mid 1980s and early 1990s, the Giants consistently had one of the top defenses in the NFL, which was otherwise known as the Big Blue Wrecking Crew.

Throughout the 10-year span between the 1981 and 1990 seasons, Big Blue's defense ranked in the top 10 in points allowed eight times. Of course, Hall of Fame linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson played very significant roles in that defensive success. But so did the third starting linebacker on the defense, Carl Banks, who often gets overlooked.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero recently joined 'Good Morning Football' where he ranked his top 5 most underrated linebackers of all-time. Ranking No. 3 on his list was Banks.

"Coming in at No. 3, another player who often got overshadowed, former Giant Carl Banks," Pelissero said. "Of course, he played alongside Lawrence Taylor with the Giants. He played alongside Harry Carson, and both of those guys are in the Hall of Fame. Carl Banks was a Hall of Fame semifinalist in 2020, but has not yet advanced further in the Hall of Fame voting. He's a name to keep in mind as we move forward here.

"He was also a member of the All-Decade Team for the 1980s, maybe the height of linebacker play in NFL history. Five of those seven guys who were on the 1980s All-Decade Team, including Mike Singletary, are now in the Hall of Fame. The only other two are Carl Banks and John Anderson."

Banks spent nine seasons with the Giants, playing in 126 games with 105 starts. After being selected with the third overall pick in the 1984 draft, Banks went on to earn a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team that season. His best season came in 1987 when he registered a career-high nine sacks with 101 total tackles and was named First-Team All-Pro along with a Pro Bowl selection.

Banks finished his Giants career with 627 tackles, which currently ranks third in franchise history behind only Leonard Marshall (660) and Michael Strahan (666).

In addition to being a member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, as Pelissero noted, Banks is also an inductee to the Giants Ring of Honor.

The Big Blue Wrecking Crew is still considered by many to be one of the greatest defenses of all-time.

Inside the Film Room: Darrian Beavers brings a lot of pop

The Giants selected 11 players in this year's NFL Draft, the last of which was Darrian Beavers, a linebacker out of Cincinnati.

Beavers had numerous pass breakups during team drills at OTAs. The rookie sixth-round pick saw a lot of time in coverage last season at Cincinnati, dropping back on 325 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Around the time of the draft, several NFL analysts had positive things to say about Beavers. Here is what a few of the experts said.

CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso: "Moments of high-end block shedding, and when he recognizes where the ball is going he's a blur to it. Like his type added to this defense."

Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski: ""The first-team All-AAC performer is an impressive athlete at his current position. Beavers posted 4.17-second short shuttle and 6.93-second three-cone times during Cincinnati's pro day, per Senior Bowl executive Jim Nagy. The former would have led all linebackers at the NFL combine, while the latter would have ranked second, trailing only himself. (He had a 6.91-second three-cone time at the combine.)"

Check out the video below to watch Bob Papa and Super Bowl champion Shaun O'Hara break down the film of linebacker Darrian Beavers.

📸 Photos: Legendary Giants LB Carl Banks

Carl Banks put together quite a stellar career in his nine seasons with the Giants.

Despite playing alongside Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, Banks was still able to make his mark in Big Blue history.

Check out the gallery below to view photos of Banks from both his days as a starting linebacker and his post-playing career with the Giants.

View photos of legendary linebacker Carl Banks' career with the Giants both on and off the field.

SGT_HOMEOPPONENTS_WIDE (2)

Single Game Tickets

Limited 2022 Giants single game tickets are on sale now

Related Content

Advertising