History of the New York Giants (1994–present)
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The New York Giants, an
American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
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 Phillip Martin Simms (born November 3, 1955) is an American former football quarterback who spent his entire 15-year professional career playing for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He is currently a television sport ...
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 Daniel Edward Reeves (January 19, 1944 – January 1, 2022) was an American football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an ...
, and failed to reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. With the hiring of
Jim Fassel James Edward Fassel (August 31, 1949 – June 7, 2021) was an American college and professional football player and coach. He was the head coach of the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 to 2003. He was offensive coor ...
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 Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, ...
, the Fassel era included an appearance in
Super Bowl XXXV Super Bowl XXXV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Ravens and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion New York Giants to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for ...
, where they lost to the
Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...
. Although there was success, the Fassel era was also marked by inconsistency, and he was fired after the 2003 season. Fassel was replaced by
Tom Coughlin Thomas Richard Coughlin ( ; born August 31, 1946) is a former American football coach and executive. He was the head coach for the New York Giants from 2004 to 2015. He led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, both time ...
who served as head coach from 2004 to 2015. The Giants acquired quarterback Eli Manning via a draft day trade from the San Diego Chargers. Manning had been the quarterback at
University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi ( byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment ...
, and was the first pick in the
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 ...
. During this period standout Giants players include
defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is ...
Michael Strahan Michael T. Strahan ( ; born November 21, 1971) is an American television personality, journalist, and former professional football player. He played his entire 15-year professional career as a defensive end for the New York Giants of the Nation ...
, who set the NFL single season record in sacks in 2001, and
running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball, and block. Ther ...
Tiki Barber Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber (; born April 7, 1975) is an American former football running back who played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Virginia ...
, who set a team record in rushing yards in 2005. The Giants made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, from 2005 to 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 Reeves Daniel Edward Reeves (January 19, 1944 – January 1, 2022) was an American football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an ...
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,1994 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 20, 2007.
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 The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divi ...
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.New York Giants (1925 – )
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 17, 2007.
The team's stars included
Rodney Hampton Rodney Craig Hampton (born April 3, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL D ...
, who had his 4th straight 1,000 yard rushing season; second-year defensive lineman
Michael Strahan Michael T. Strahan ( ; born November 21, 1971) is an American television personality, journalist, and former professional football player. He played his entire 15-year professional career as a defensive end for the New York Giants of the Nation ...
, and linebackers
Jessie Armstead Jessie Willard Armstead (born October 26, 1970) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played for eleven seasons with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins between 1993 and 2003. He played col ...
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,1995 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 20, 2007.
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 A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
(GM) George Young who chose the team's draft picks. Lowlights were a 35–0 loss to the
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divi ...
in the Monday Night season opener,History of the New York Giants
www.sportsecyclopedia.com, Retrieved September 12, 2006.
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.


Jim Fassel era


1997–1999

The Giants hired
Jim Fassel James Edward Fassel (August 31, 1949 – June 7, 2021) was an American college and professional football player and coach. He was the head coach of the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 to 2003. He was offensive coor ...
to replace Reeves before the 1997 season. Fassel had been the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and
Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...
. After an opening day win against Philadelphia the Giants lost their next three games,1997 New York Giants
, accessed databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 18, 2007.
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 The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...
. 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.1998 New York Giants
, pro-football-reference.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
However, the offense continued to be a disappointment. Brown had been jettisoned and replaced by Kanell and
Kent Graham Kent Douglas Graham (born November 1, 1968) is a former American football quarterback. Graham played quarterback at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State University. After his college football career, Graham had a lengt ...
. 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 Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, ...
. 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.King, Peter
Renewed and revitalized at 28, Collins finally comes clean
''Sports Illustrated'', January 22, 2001, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
Mike Ditka Michael Keller Ditka (born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former football player, coach, and television commentator. A member of both the College (1986) and the Pro (1988) Football Halls of Fame, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year i ...
, coach of the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
signed him after his release; however the experiment failed and Collins was released again. Although many people, including ''
Sports Illustrated ''Sports Illustrated'' (''SI'') is an American sports magazine first published in August 1954. Founded by Stuart Scheftel, it was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the National Magazine Award for General Excellence twi ...
'' football beat writer Peter King questioned the wisdom of Accorsi and the Giants giving Collins a US$16.9 million contract,Pompei, Dan
Collins is a low-risk signing for the QB-starved Giants—Kerry Collins signs with New York Giants; Nolan Harrison; related NFL news
''
The Sporting News The ''Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a pr ...
'', March 8, 1999, Retrieved March 20, 2007.
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 Amani Askari Toomer (born September 8, 1974) is a former American football wide receiver and punt returner who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He registered over 1,000 receiving yards each ...
had a breakout season, accumulating over 1,100 yards receiving and six touchdowns.1999 New York Giants
, Retrieved March 18, 2007.
Fellow receiver
Ike Hilliard Isaac Jason Hilliard (born April 5, 1976) is a former American football wide receiver Who most recently served as the wide receivers coach for the Auburn Tigers (NCAA). He played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-A ...
also had a solid season, finishing just shy of 1,000 yards receiving on the year. Tight end Pete Mitchell contributed 58 receptions, and
Tiki Barber Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber (; born April 7, 1975) is an American former football running back who played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of 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 acquisition was running back
Ron Dayne Ronald Dayne (born March 14, 1978) is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. Dayne played college football for the University of Wisconsin and won the 1999 Heisma ...
, Heisman Trophy winner from the
University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
. Before the draft the team was debating whether to select Dayne or
Shaun Alexander Shaun Edward Alexander (born August 30, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the ...
. 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 7–4,2000 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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 The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
, 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 Rachard Culpepper (born January 28, 1977) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at UCF and was selected ...
and receivers
Randy Moss Randy Gene Moss (born February 13, 1977) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee ...
and
Cris Carter Graduel Christopher Darin Carter (born November 25, 1965) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989), the Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) and the Mia ...
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 Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. (born May 15, 1975) is an American former professional football player who played as a middle linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens for his entire 17-year career in the National Football League (NFL). He played co ...
) 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. On Sirius Radio, hosting a program in the mid-2010's, Amani Toomer revealed that Jim Fassel panicked in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Changing the offensive game plan completely, the Giants lost the confidence built up in the NFC Championship game. Toomer attributes this as a major factor in their Super Bowl defeat.


2001–2003

The Giants were unable to build on their Super Bowl success in 2001, finishing the season 7–92001 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 20, 2007.
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,
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. ne ...

Strahan breaks Gastineau's 17-year-old record
espn.com, January, 2001, Retrieved March 11, 2009.
and won the
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award Several organizations give out NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards that are listed in the ''NFL Record and Fact Book'' and ''Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League''. The Associated Press (AP) has been givi ...
. He broke the 17-year-old NFL record held by
Mark Gastineau Marcus Dell Gastineau (born November 20, 1956) is an American former football player who was a defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generatio ...
. The 2002 season saw the arrival of
tight end The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Lik ...
Jeremy Shockey Jeremy Charles Shockey (born August 18, 1980) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. The winner of the fir ...
from the
University of Miami The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, i ...
, 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.2002 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 17, 2007.
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 San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
. 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.Associated Press
Garcia, 49ers erase 24-point deficit
espn.com, January 5, 2003, Retrieved March 22, 2007.
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 Eldorado Owens (; born December 7, 1973), nicknamed T.O., is an American football wide receiver for the Knights of Degen of Fan Controlled Football (FCF). He previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. Regar ...
—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 Steven Matt Bryant (born May 29, 1975), nicknamed "Money Matt", is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for the Baylor Bears, and was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the AFL's Iowa Barnstormers in 2000. A ...
. However, Bryant never got an opportunity to make the kick. 40-year-old long snapper
Trey Junkin Abner Kirk "Trey" Junkin III (born January 23, 1961) is a former American football long snapper in the National Football League. Junkin played college football at Louisiana Tech University. Although considered one of the forefathers of the mode ...
—who had been signed out of retirement for this playoff game—snapped the ball low and punter
Matt Allen Matt Allen (born October 23, 1977) is an former American football punter in the National Football League. Allen played college football at Troy State and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2002. He played for one ...
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, despite checking in as an eligible receiver before the play), 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 4–12.2003 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 17, 2007.
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.


Tom Coughlin era: 2004–2015


2004 NFL Draft and arrival of Eli Manning

After a brief search, Ernie Accorsi hired
Tom Coughlin Thomas Richard Coughlin ( ; born August 31, 1946) is a former American football coach and executive. He was the head coach for the New York Giants from 2004 to 2015. He led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, both time ...
, a one-time assistant of former Giants' coach
Bill Parcells Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells (born August 22, 1941) is an American former football coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons. He rose to prominence as the head coach of the New York Giants from 1983 ...
, to be the Giants new head coach. Coughlin had been the inaugural head coach of the
Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team pla ...
, and led them to the AFC Championship Game twice. He became the 16th head coach in franchise history.History of the New York Giants
, giants.com/history, Retrieved May 24, 2007.
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 The University of Mississippi ( byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment ...
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.Magee, Jerry
Nothing personal, San Diego; Eli Manning just didn't want to be a Charger
, ''
The San Diego Union-Tribune ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' is a metropolitan daily newspaper published in San Diego, California, that has run since 1868. Its name derives from a 1992 merger between the two major daily newspapers at the time, ''The San Diego Union'' and ...
'', September 21, 2005, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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 Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football at NC State and was se ...
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 Kerry Michael Collins (born December 30, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. Collins was a member of six NFL teams, most notably the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, ...
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 Kurtis Eugene Warner (born June 22, 1971) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals. His career, which saw him ascend f ...
, to serve as the interim quarterback until Manning was deemed ready to play. Warner had led the
St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994. The arr ...
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: Eli 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 5–2.2004 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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 Dayne Ronald Dayne (born March 14, 1978) is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. Dayne played college football for the University of Wisconsin and won the 1999 Heisma ...
was released. Dayne had experienced several mediocre seasons while
Shaun Alexander Shaun Edward Alexander (born August 30, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the ...
, 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 New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
.2005 New York Giants
, databasefootball.com, Retrieved March 16, 2007.
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 The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994. The arr ...
by a score of 44–24. On October 25, 2005, Giants patriarch
Wellington Mara Wellington Timothy Mara (August 14, 1916 – October 25, 2005) was the co-owner of the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1959 until his death. He was the younger son of Tim Mara, who founded the Giants in 1925. Wellingto ...
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 boys and ball girls, also known as ball kids are individuals, usually human youths but sometimes dogs, who retrieve and supply balls for players or officials in sports such as association football, American football, bandy, cricket, tenn ...
for the Giants. The Giants dedicated their next game to Mara, and shut out the
Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
, 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 (April 29, 1926 – November 15, 2005) was an American businessman who was the chairman and—along with his brother Laurence Tisch—was part owner of the Loews Corporation. From 1991 until his death, Tisch owned 50 ...
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.Associated Press
Three missed FGs doom Giants in OT loss to Seahawks
espn.com, November 27, 2005, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
They then defeated the Cowboys, 17–10.Associated Press
Giants alone atop NFC East after narrow win vs. 'Boys
December 4, 2005, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
The Giants defense made opposing quarterback
Drew Bledsoe Drew McQueen Bledsoe (born February 14, 1972) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football at Washington State, whe ...
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 The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The ...
, 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 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 Ositadimma "Osi" Umenyiora (born November 16, 1981) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for Troy University and was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Umenyiora was a ...
, and Special teamer
David Tyree David Mikel Tyree (born January 3, 1980) is a former American football wide receiver and executive who played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, primarily with the New York Giants. He played college football at Syracuse and ...
.2005 New York Giants
, pro-football-reference.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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 start2006 New York Giants Schedule
espn.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
to gain a two-game advantage in the NFC East, but then key injuries to the offense and defense took their toll. Frustrations with the lack of production and with head coach
Tom Coughlin Thomas Richard Coughlin ( ; born August 31, 1946) is a former American football coach and executive. He was the head coach for the New York Giants from 2004 to 2015. He led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, both time ...
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 the Titans, in which the team surrendered a 21-point fourth-quarter advantage. Following a season-ending win in Washington, the Giants claimed a wildcard berth in the NFC playoffs, but were defeated in the first round by the Eagles. 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 touchdowns2006 New York Giants player stats
espn.com, Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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.New York Giants
footballreference.com, accessed October 5, 2010.
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 Umenyiora Ositadimma "Osi" Umenyiora (born November 16, 1981) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for Troy University and was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Umenyiora was a ...
. 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 playoffs with a 10–6 record (second in the NFC East) and played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs. They avenged a third playoff loss from Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia by beating them 24–14.2007 New York Giants
footballreference.com, accessed October 5, 2010.
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 The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divi ...
, 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 In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
, completing 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards along with two touchdowns.New York Giants 17 vs. New England Patriots 14
football reference.com, accessed October 5, 2010.
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 their third Super Bowl. 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 The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
inside Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.


2008–2010: Closing of Giants Stadium and opening of MetLife Stadium

The Giants won their division again in 2008, with a record of 12–4 and earned themselves a first round bye and the No. 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.2008 New York Giants
footballreference.com, October 5, 2010.
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 Brandon Christopher Jacobs (born July 6, 1982) is a former American football running back, who spent the majority of his career with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coffeyville, Auburn, ...
and
Derrick Ward Derrick LaRon Ward (born August 30, 1980) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the New York Giants, Tampa ...
who both rushed for 1,000 yards, as the Giants led the NFL in rushing yards.2008 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
footballreference.com, accessed October 5, 2010.
Justin Tuck Justin Lee Tuck (born March 29, 1983) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at Notre Dame, and was drafted by the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, ...
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 the Cowboys brought a 31–24 victory, but was followed by a 45–38 loss to the Eagles.2009 New York Giants
footballreference.com, October 5, 2010.
The Giants nonetheless remained in the playoff picture until being defeated by the Panthers 41–9 in Week 16, in the last Giants home game at Giants Stadium. They then ended the year with an 8–8 record after a loss to the Vikings in Minnesota, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.2009 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
footballreference.com, accessed October 5, 2010.
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.Mascarenhas, Rohan

''
The Star-Ledger ''The Star-Ledger'' is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to '' The Jersey Journal'' of Jersey City, ''The Times'' of Trenton and the '' Staten Island Advance'', all of ...
'', August 17, 2010, accessed October 5, 2010.
During the summer,
Bob Sheppard Robert Leo Sheppard (October 20, 1910 – July 11, 2010) was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (1951–2007), and ...
, the Giants' 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, the Giants inaugurated their new home by beating the Panthers 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.Garofolo, Mike
Penalty problems plaguing Giants even as coach Tom Coughlin preaches discipline
''The Star-Ledger'', October 3, 2010, October 5, 2010.
In the Colts' game, Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands, and in the next week's game with the Titans (a 29–10 loss at home) the Giants 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 and rescheduled to the next day, where the Giants won 21–3. Against the Eagles in the next week, the Giants blew a 21-point fourth quarter lead and the game when Eagles receiver
DeSean Jackson DeSean William Jackson (born December 1, 1986) is an American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he was recognized as a con ...
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 Miracle at the New Meadowlands, also called "New Miracle at the New Meadowlands" and "Miracle at the Meadowlands II" was an improbable come-from-behind win by the Philadelphia Eagles over rival team the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Sta ...
." 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.


2011: Super Bowl champions again

As the Giants began 2011, many NFL analysts predicted that the Eagles were a favorite to win the NFC East title, while the Giants were not expected to make the playoffs. The Giants opened their regular season against the Redskins on September 11, 2011, and lost in Washington 28–14. The Giants then won three straight games, including breaking their six-game losing streak to the Eagles. By Week 9, the Giants were 6–2 after beating the Patriots in New England for their first encounter since Super Bowl XLII. At this point however, they entered a difficult stretch of games and lost four straight to a resurgent 49ers, followed by the Eagles, Saints, and Packers. By now, the Giants found their chances of beating the Cowboys to the division title fading and Tom Coughlin's coaching abilities were increasingly called into question despite reassurances from team president John Mara that there were no plans to fire him. However, the Giants kept their playoff hopes alive in Week 14 by beating the Cowboys in Dallas on a last-second scoring drive led by Eli Manning and extending their win streak in
Cowboys Stadium AT&T Stadium, formerly Cowboys Stadium, is a retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. It serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and was completed on May 27, 2009. It is also the hom ...
to three straight games. Despite another loss to the Redskins afterwards, the Giants defeated the New York Jets in Week 16 by a final score of 29–14, also eliminating the Eagles from playoff contention, to set up a rematch with the Cowboys in which the winner would win the NFC East and the loser would be eliminated from playoff contention. The game was later flexed into Sunday Night Football. The Giants beat the Cowboys 31–14 to win the NFC East with a record of 9–7. Throughout the regular season, Eli Manning (always viewed as a weak quarterback compared to his brother) put up some of the best stats of his career. During the wild card round of the playoffs, the Giants hosted the Atlanta Falcons and won 24–2, with the Falcons' only score from a safety due to Eli Manning being flagged for grounding in the end zone. In the divisional round, the Giants were forced to play the defending champion Green Bay Packers at
Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor athletic stadium in the north central United States, located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The home field of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), it opened in 1957 as City Stadium, replacing ...
. The Packers had finished the regular season with a league-best 15–1 record, including a 38–35 win against the Giants in Week 13. In addition, the Packers received a first-round bye, and thus this was their first playoff match. Despite these obstacles, the Giants handily defeated the Packers 37–20 to qualify for the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. With the score tied, 17–17, in regulation, the Giants moved into field goal range in overtime and
Lawrence Tynes Lawrence James Henry Tynes (born May 3, 1978) is a Scottish-born former American football placekicker. After playing soccer for Milton High School a coach suggested he try out for the football team as a kicker. He played college football at Troy ...
, the hero of the 2007 postseason, kicked a 20-yard field goal to send them to Super Bowl XLVI, a rematch against the New England Patriots.


Super Bowl XLVI

Once again facing the New England Patriots, the New York Giants headed to Lucas Oil Stadium, home of Eli's brother Peyton's team, the Indianapolis Colts. The Giants got off to an early lead by an intentional grounding call on
Tom Brady Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots organization, with which ...
in the end zone for a safety and retaining the ball for most of the 1st quarter. However, the Patriots came back and battled to a 10–9 lead. Nearing the end of the 4th quarter with the Giants behind 17–15, Patriots coach
Bill Belichick William Stephen Belichick (; born April 16, 1952) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, he exercises extensive authority over the Patri ...
allowed them to score a touchdown with the idea that they would have nearly a minute to drive downfield and score. However, the Giants defense held and broke up several Brady pass attempts. A last-second throw into the end zone by Brady was thwarted and the Giants won their fourth Super Bowl 21–17.


2012–2015: Struggles

Like 2011, the Giants began the 2012 season 6–2 and finished 9–7, matching their 2011 record. After splitting their first four games, they won four straight, including a 26–3 road win against the eventual NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. However, a 3–5 stretch in the second half of the season, punctuated by a 17–16 loss to the Washington Redskins and a 33–14 loss to the eventual
Super Bowl XLVII Super Bowl XLVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Ravens and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion ...
champion Baltimore Ravens, was not enough for the Giants to overcome, causing them to miss the playoffs, thus failing to repeat as Super Bowl champions.2012 New York Giants
footballreference.com, July 29, 2019.
The Giants entered the 2013 season with hope they would play in
Super Bowl XLVIII Super Bowl XLVIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos and National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for th ...
in their home stadium. However, the season began disastrously as the Giants lost their first six games of the season. Despite this, the Giants won their next four games, before losing to the Dallas Cowboys, 24–21. The Giants finished 7–9, their first losing season since 2004.2013 New York Giants
footballreference.com, July 29, 2019.
The Giants started the 2014 season losing their first two games before winning three straight. However, a seven-game losing streak sealed their fate, as they regressed to a 6–10 record. Despite the disappointing season, rookie wide receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992), commonly known by his initials OBJ, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham played college football at LSU and was drafted by the ...
won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.2014 New York Giants
footballreference.com, July 29, 2019.
The Giants began the 2015 season in similar fashion. Their first two losses made them the first team in NFL history to lose their first two games despite leading by at least ten points. Despite their defensive struggles, they remained in the playoff race due to a weak division. But a poor November and December (in which the defense blew several late leads) caused the Giants to finish at 6–10.
footballreference.com, July 29, 2019.


Ben McAdoo era: 2016–2017

After several disappointing seasons, Coughlin retired after the end of the 2015 season as head coach. Ben McAdoo was named his successor. McAdoo brought the Giants to an 11–5 record and their first playoff berth since 2011 with a much improved defense (despite a mediocre offense). He was the first Giants head coach since Jim Fassel in 1997 to bring them to the playoffs in his first year as head coach. On December 11, 2016, during a Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, McAdoo was fined $200,000 for illegally using a walkie talkie on the field. Despite the regular season success, the Giants were defeated in the wild card round by the Green Bay Packers. Despite an offseason filled with optimism, the 2017 season would prove much more challenging. An inept offense and under-performing defense, paired with season ending injuries to star wide receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992), commonly known by his initials OBJ, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham played college football at LSU and was drafted by the ...
and offseason acquisition
Brandon Marshall Brandon Tyrone Marshall (born March 23, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCF Knights, and was drafted by ...
, resulted in a 1–5 start. On November 5, 2017, the Giants suffered their largest home loss since 1998 in a 51–17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Disciplinary issues followed as mid-season suspensions were handed out to defensive stars
Janoris Jenkins Janoris Jermain Jenkins (born October 29, 1988), nicknamed "Jackrabbit", is an American football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Alabama and Florida and was draft ...
and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. There was also speculation cornerback Eli Apple, the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, contemplated leaving the team after an especially critical film session led by McAdoo. The turbulent 2017 season came to a head for McAdoo when on November 28 he announced the team would be benching Eli Manning in favor of the much maligned Geno Smith. Manning's benching snapped his streak of 210 consecutive starts, the longest active streak in the NFL at the time, and the second longest in NFL history to only Brett Favre's 297. Fan and media reaction to the announcement was decidedly negative, with several fans and media personnel coming to Eli's defense despite the team's struggles on offense.
Geno Smith Eugene Cyril "Geno" Smith III (born October 10, 1990) is an American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia, leading the Mountaineers to multiple bowl game ...
would go on to start for the team in their week 13 loss to the Oakland Raiders, bringing their record to 2–10. The following day, the Giants fired Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese. McAdoo was the first Giants head coach to be fired during a season since Bill Arnsparger in 1976, and also became the first head coach to not last two full seasons with the team since Earl Potteiger in 1928. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was named interim head coach, and Eli Manning was reinstated as starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. The Giants would proceed to finish the season 1–3 for a final record of 3–13. The record was the worst that the Giants posted since the league expanded to a 16-game regular season in 1978. Before the final game of the season against the Washington Redskins, the Giants formally announced the hiring of
Dave Gettleman David Alan Gettleman (born February 21, 1951) is a former American football executive in the National Football League (NFL) who was the senior vice president and general manager for the New York Giants from 2018 to 2021 and the Carolina Panther ...
as their next general manager.


Pat Shurmur era: 2018–2019

On January 22, 2018, the Giants announced the hiring of Pat Shurmur as their next head coach. Shurmur had previously been the offensive coordinator for the
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...
, offensive coordinator and interim head coach for the
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
, and head coach of the
Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...
. The Giants selected running back
Saquon Barkley Saquon Barkley ( ; born February 9, 1997) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to entering the NFL in 2018, Barkley played college football at Penn State for three seasons gai ...
out of Penn State with their first round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the highest that the Giants had selected in the draft since 1981. The Giants aggressively turned over their roster from the 2017 season, with only 13 out of the 53 players from the previous season's final game making the initial roster for the 2018 season. Despite these changes, the Giants only marginally improved in their first season under Shurmur, finishing last in the NFC East for a second year in a row with a 5–11 record. In the 2019 NFL Draft The Giants selected Eli Manning successor Daniel Jones. On December 30, 2019, the Giants fired head coach Pat Shurmur.


Joe Judge era: 2020-2021


Brian Daboll era: 2022–present


See also

*
New York Giants seasons The New York Giants are an American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are a member of the National Football League (NFL) and play in the NFL's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. In 96 completed seasons, the ...
*
Logos and Uniforms of the New York Giants The New York Giants of the National Football League 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 "Gian ...
*
List of New York Giants players Hall of Fame in 1999.">Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame.html" ;"title="Lawrence Taylor, linebacker for the Giants between 1981 and 1993, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame">Hall of Fame in 1999. This article is a list of American football p ...


References


External links


giants.com/history
{{DEFAULTSORT:History of the New York Giants (1994-present) History of the New York Giants