The history of the Strong New York Giants since 1925 , their formation in the year 1925, numerous championships and Super Bowl wins, legendary players and momentous events , a mixture of deep rooted tradition and an attempt to create a competitive future.
Founding and Early Years (1925–1930s)
- New York Giants were established in 1925 by a Manhattan bookmaker named Tim Mara who bought the team at $500. It was aimed at making New York City a football city, which was dominated by baseball even at the time.
- The team became part of the National Football league (NFL) immediately.
- In the first season, the Giants were already promising to be a competitive team with an overall 8-4 team record.
- Early star performers were Cal Hubbard (Hall of Fame tackle), Steve Owen (end, subsequent legendary coach), and Ken Strong, an all-purpose back with his kicking and running.
1930s–1940s: First Championships
- The Giants first emerged as a powerful team by winning their first NFL championship in 1927, finishing 11-1 -1.
- The 1930s were marked by continuous success of the team with the same head coach Steve Owen who replaced him in 1931.
- Notable highlights:
o 1934: The Giants were called the Sneakers Game, and they won the NFL Championship against the Chicago Bears 30-13. They took to sneakers on the icy field at the Polo Grounds and were much better.
o 1938: Another NFL Title was won beating Green Bay Packers 23-17.
- The early identity of the Giants consisted of a major defense and type of tough running games.
1950s-1960s: The Comeback Era and Allie Sherman.
- The period after the WW II was both reconstruction and prosperity.
- In the early 1960s, the Giants were a powerhouse, and it was under the leadership of Allie Sherman (1961-1969 head coach).
- Different players were Y.A. Tittle (quarterback), Frank Gifford (halfback), and Rosey Grier (defensive tackle).
- Giants also played three NFL championship games during the years 1961, 1962 and 1963; however, lost all the games to the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
- The struggles also started in the 1960s as the team was not able to keep the dominance later in the decade.
1970s: Struggles and Rebuilding
- The Giants had a spell of mediocrity in the 1970s which was characterized by:
o Coaching changes
o Few playoff appearances
o Aging rosters
- The notable players at this period were Ron Johnson, Larry Csonka (temporarily) and O.J. Anderson who were coming out at the end of the 70s.
- The fact that the team was no longer successful in this time was the opposite of its previous glory days.
1980s: Super Bowl Success and The Bill Parcells Era.
- In 1983, Bill Parcells took over the coach position and the team began to revive.
- The team formulated and created stars such as:
o Lawrence Taylor (linebacker) – turned around the defensive style of play, later regarded as one of the best NFL players.
o Phil Simms (quarterback)
o Harry Carson (linebacker)
- Under Parcells:
o Giants had a winning season of Super Bowl XXI (1986) and beat the Denver Broncos 39-20. Phil Simms was MVP.
o Won Super Bowl XXV (1990 season), 20-19 over the Buffalo Bills in one of the most notorious Super Bowls, where Scott Norwood had a field goal that missed.
- The Giants were identified with brute strength, roughness and disciplined training.
1990s: Transition and Rebuilding
- The Giants experienced a number of coaching changes after the exit of Parcells in 1991.
- The head coach was Jim Fassel who was hired in 1997 and brought some stability in the team.
- Some of the players were Tiki Barber, Michael Strahan, and Kenny Holmes.
- The team appeared at the playoffs several times, but failed to get to the Super Bowl in the majority of the 1990s.
2000s: Back to Glory With Tom Coughlin.
- In 2004, Tom Coughlin served as head coach and with him came discipline and good defense.
- Selected Eli Manning (QB) in 2004 and made the foundation of the team during more than ten years.
- Major defensive players such as Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck were key defensive players.
- The Giants have won Super Bowl XLII (2007 season):
o Beat the so far unbeaten New England Patriots 17–14, and ended their undefeated season.
o David Tyree is known because of the Helmet Catch.
- Won Super Bowl XLVI (2011 season) over the Patriots in another melodramatic rebirth, 21-17, on the hand of Manning.
2010s: Struggles and Transition
- Following the 2011 Super Bowl victory, the Giants slowly deteriorated through injuries, old age and unreliable play of quarterbacks.
- Eli Manning was the starting player until his retirement in 2019.
- Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur as coaches have had short-lived mediocreities.
- The main problems were the reconstruction of the offensive line, the selection of talents and filling empty gaps left by old stars.
2020s: Rebuilding for the Future
- In 2019, the Giants selected Daniel Jones (QB) and started a gradual re-building process.
- Renewed optimism was created by head coach Brian Daboll (hired 2022).
- The team has concentrated on building bright youths and a powerful defense to get back to the playoff.
Legacy and Impact
- Championships/super bowl: 8 (4 pre-super bowl, 4 super bowl)
- Famous defences, such as Lawrence Taylor and the Crunch Bunch and current day defensive superstars.
- Home: The MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (shared with Jets). Until recently: Polo Grounds, Giants Stadium.
- Great Hall of Famers: Lawrence Taylor, Frank Gifford, Mel Hein, Y.A. Tittle, Michael Strahan, Harry Carson.
- Let us mention that it is considered to be one of the most iconic and sturdiest NFL franchises that have a record of a performance under pressure and some miraculous wins.
Conclusion
the New York Giants are one of the most historic and the influential franchises in the history of NFL. Since the team was established in 1925 and until the time when they started winning championships, the team has always been characterized by resilience, toughness and a strong desire to excel.
Players who have become legends, such as Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning, and Frank Gifford, and well-known coaches, such as Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin, have established the Giants reputation of performing well on the field under the pressure and achieving dramatic wins. Having an experience of both invincible defense sprees and Super Bowl victories, the Giants remain a pillar of professional football, a mixture of deep rooted tradition and an attempt to create a competitive future.
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