History of the New York Giants (1925–1978)

The history of the New York Giants covers the American football franchise from the team's inception until the conclusion of their tumultuous 1978 season. Currently members of the NFL's National Football Conference, the Giants were founded in 1925 by original owner Tim Mara in the then five-year-old NFL. Mara owned the team until his death in 1959, when it was passed on to his sons Wellington and Jack. During this period in their history the Giants acquired four NFL championships, but also suffered some down times, including consecutive non-playoff seasons from 1964 to 1978. In just its third season, the team finished with the best record in the league at 11–1–1 and was awarded the NFL title. In a fourteen year span from 1933 to 1946, the Giants qualified to play in the NFL championship game eight times, winning twice. They did not win another league title until 1956, aided by a number of future Pro Football Hall of Fame players such as running back Frank Gifford, linebacker Sam Huff, and offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown. 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 Tom Landry coaching the defense. From 1958 to 1963, the Giants played in the NFL championship game 5 out of those 6 years, but failed to win. The 1958 NFL Championship game, in which they lost 23–17 in overtime to the Baltimore Colts, is widely credited with increasing the popularity of the NFL in the United States. From 1964 to 1978, the Giants registered only two winning seasons and were unable to advance to the playoffs. During this period the team also traded away quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who would later lead the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowls and end up in the Hall of Fame. It was not until 1981 that the Giants would return to the playoffs and develop a consistent playoff team.

Birth and success: 1925-1957

The Giants were founded in 1925 by Tim Mara, a bookmaker (legal in 1925), businessman, and promoter, with an investment of US$500. [http://www.giants.com/history/TeamHistory.html History of the New York Giants] , giants.com, accessed January 12, 2007. ] Mara decided to invest the $500 in the Giants as opposed to heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney,Burke, Monte. [http://www.forbes.com/2003/08/29/cz_mb_0829giants.html Turning $500 Into A $573 Million NFL Team] , forbes.com, August 29, 2003, accessed June 1, 2007. ] and started the team with the statement, "an exclusive franchise for anything in New York is worth $500." [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 112 ] Legally named "New York Football Giants" to distinguish themselves from the baseball team of the same name, they became one of the first teams of the then five-year-old NFL. Mara owned the team until his death in 1959, when it was passed on to his sons Wellington and Jack. The Giants played their first game against All New Britain in New Britain, Connecticut, on October 4, 1925. [http://pages.prodigy.net/revmoran/FirstGame/FirstGame.htm New York First Game & First Home Game Program] , prodigy.net, accessed March 16, 2007. ] [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40910FD3B5E1A7A93C7A9178BD95F418285F9 New York Pro Eleven Takes Opening Game] , "The New York Times", October 5, 1925, accessed March 16, 2007] They defeated New Britain 26–0 in front of a crowd of 10,000.

Although the Giants were successful on the field in their first season, going 8–4 in 1925, [http://nfl.com/history/teams/NYG NFL History: New York Giants] , NFL.com/history, accessed January 23, 2007. ] their financial status was a different story. Overshadowed by baseball, boxing, and college football, professional football was not a popular sport in 1925. Mara had to spend $25,000 of his own money during the season just to keep the franchise alive. This struggle continued until the eleventh game of the season when Red Grange and the Chicago Bears came to town attracting over 73,000 fans—a pro football record. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 52 ] The game attracted such attention that 20,000 fans had to be turned away at the gates. [ Watterson. pg. 154 ] This gave the Giants a much needed influx of revenue, and perhaps altered the history of the franchise. [ [http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1921-1930 NFL History: 1921-1930] , NFL.com/history, accessed May 13, 2007. ] [ Carroll. pg. 126 ]

The Giants went 8–4–1 in 1926, and withstood a challenge from an upstart American football league led by a team featuring Grange. Grange and his agent had formed the American Football League and placed their flagship team, the Yankees, in New York. According to a story published by "The New York Times" in December 1926, the Giants lost over $50,000 during the season. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A1EFC3C5D13738DDDA00994DA415B868EF1D3 Pro Football Here to Stay, Says Mara; Giants to Play Next Year Despite Losses -- Game Also to Remain at Ebbets Field.] , "The New York Times", December 19, 1926, accessed June 4, 2007. ] Grange's league lasted one season however, and was subsumed into the NFL. The Yankees folded two years later.

The Giants had a very successful season in 1927, finishing 11–1–1. [http://www.giants.com/history/ChampionshipGames.html Championship games 1925-1949] , giants.com, accessed January 12, 2007. ] Their defense posted 10 shutouts in 13 games and was the best in the league. On offense they were led by halfback Jack McBride, whose 57 points led the league in scoring, and his versatile backfield partner Hinkey Haines.Neft, Cohen, and Korch, Rick. pg. 68 ] [http://giants.com/photos/03_25_59_info.pdf Giants Offensive Statistics (1925-1959)] (PDF), giants.com/history, accessed May 12, 2007. ] New coach Earl Potteiger led the team into a game against the Chicago Bears late in the season with first place on the line. The Giants won 13–7 in what Steve Owen called, "the toughest, roughest football game I ever played." [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 69 ] From then on it was an easy trip to the championship, as they had a 2 game lead over the Bears by virtue of their head to head tiebreaker (note: the championship was determined by record in that era; it was not until 1933 that the NFL had a championship game).

Despite solid performances by linemen Cal Hubbard and Steve Owen, [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 75 ] the Giants finished a disappointing 4–7–2 in 1928. Following the season, the team released 18 players and Potteiger was fired and replaced by LeRoy Andrews. Before the 1929 season Mara purchased the entire squad of the Detroit Wolverines, including star quarterback Benny Friedman, a team which had finished in third place the year before. The rosters of the two teams were combined under the Giants name and this led to immediate improvement as the Giants record soared to 13–1–1 in 1929. Friedman's arrival in particular boosted tickets sales and fan interest, which more than covered the expense of his high salary ($10,000). [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 78 ] However, their only loss was a November 20-6 game to the Green Bay Packers who by virtue of this win, and their 12–0–1 record, would go on to win the NFL title. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 79 ] Following the season, Mara transferred ownership of the team over to his two sons to insulate the team from creditors.

In 1930, there were still many who questioned the quality of the professional game, claiming the college "amateurs" played with more intensity. In December 1930, the Giants played a team of Notre Dame All Stars at the Polo Grounds to raise money for the unemployed of New York City. It was also an opportunity to establish the superiority of the pro game. Knute Rockne reassembled his Four Horsemen along with the stars of his 1930 Championship squad and told them to score early, then defend. Rockne, like much of the public, thought little of pro football and expected an easy win. But from the beginning it was a one way contest, with Friedman running for two Giant touchdowns and Hap Moran passing for another. Notre Dame failed to score. When it was all over, Coach Rockne told his team, "That was the greatest football machine I ever saw. I am glad none of you got hurt." [ [http://pages.prodigy.net/revmoran/giantsnd/Giants_vs_Notre_Dame_page1.htm New York Giants vs. Notre Dame All Stars December 14, 1930] , prodigy.net, accessed March 12, 2007. ] The game raised $100,000 for the homeless, and is often credited with establishing the legitimacy of the professional game.Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 83 ]

Following the 1930 season Friedman retired to become an assistant coach at Yale, and the team hired lineman Steve Owen as the team's new head coach. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 88 ] The Giants struggled the next two seasons, finishing with a combined record of 11–12–3. They rebounded in 1933 finishing 11–3, and narrowly losing to the Chicago Bears 23–21 in the championship game. [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1933 1933 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007. ] The Giants resurgence was led by some of the league's best linemen, such as Ray Flaherty, and future Hall of Famers Red Badgro, and Mel Hein. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 114 ] They also were aided by strong seasons from halfbacks Ken Strong, whose 64 points paced the team, and Kink Richards who averaged 6.8 yards per carry on the season.

In 1934, the team defeated the previously unbeaten Bears 30–13 at the Polo Grounds on an icy field with temperatures peaking at 25 degrees. Before the game, team treasurer John Mara talked with Owen and captain Ray Flaherty about the frozen field conditions. Flaherty suggested the Giants wear sneakers on the frozen field, as he had played in a game under similar circumstances at Gonzaga and the sneakers proved to be effective. [Anderson, Dave. [http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0617FF3B5F0C728FDDAB0994DD484D81 Sports of the Times; Wellington Mara Looks Back] , "The New York Times", December 31, 1985, accessed June 4, 2007. ] Mara dispatched equipment manager Abe Cohen to get as many sneakers as he could get.Blauss, Bill. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/2001/03/29/sayitaintso_bears/ The Title Wars] , "Chicago Tribune", October 4, 1986, accessed January 2, 2007. ] Due to traffic and the inability to find any athletic goods stores open on Sunday, Cohen was unable to return before the game started and the Giants, wearing conventional footwear, trailed 10–3 at the end of the first half. Realizing time was short, Cohen went to Manhattan College—where he had a key to the equipment and locker rooms—and returned to the Polo Grounds at halftime with nine pairs of basketball sneakers, saying that "nine pairs was all I could get." Players donned the sneakers and the Giants, after allowing the Bears another field goal late in the third period, responded with 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win their first NFL Championship game. The game would come to be known as "The Sneakers Game", and the 27 points the Giants scored in the fourth quarter set a single-quarter championship game scoring record that stood for decades. After the game offensive tackle Len Grant expressed his sincere gratitude by stating simply "God bless Abe Cohen." [Gottehrer. pg. 123 ]

The Giants were unable to repeat as champions in 1935 as they fell to the Lions 26–7 in the NFL Championship game. The Lion staked a 13-0 lead before the Giants were able to cut the deficit to 13–7 in the third quarter. However the Lions defense helped their team score two late touchdowns with a blocked punt and an interception. The Giants were very successful from the latter half of the 1930s until the United States entry into World War II. According to one publication, " [f] rom 1936 to 1941 the New York Giants annually fielded a collection of NFL all-stars." [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 113 ] Quarterback Ed Danowski led the league in passing in 1935 and 1936. [ Pellowski. pg. 200 ] They added their third NFL championship in 1938 with a 23–17 win over the Green Bay Packers in front of over 48,000 fans at the Polo Grounds. The game was a tightly contested affair with the Giants having ridden two blocked Green Bay punts to an early lead, before the Packers came back to take a 17–16 lead. However, in the fourth quarter Danowski threw a 23–yard touchdown pass to Hank Soar, and the defense held the lead to give the Giants their third NFL championship.

The Giants made the championship game again the following year, losing to the Packers in a rematch 31–16. They finished 8–3 in 1941, and held a ceremony to honor future Hall of Fame running back Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans in the final regular season game on December 7, 1941.Ward, Nathan. [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1991/8/1991_8_40.shtml 1941 Fifty Years Ago Tuffy’s Day] , "American Heritage", December 1991, accessed May 31, 2007. ] Leemans had been with the Giants since 1936, when he led the league in rushing as a rookie with 830 yards. Frostino. pg. 24 ] A versatile performer, he rushed for over 3,000 yards, and passed for over 2,300 in his career. During the course of the game the stadium announcer paged Colonel William Joseph Donovan to answer a call from Washington D.C., and told all servicemen to return to their units, but it was only when the game concluded that players and spectators learned of the attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor earlier that day. [ [http://profootballhof.com/history/general/war/worldwar2/page1.jsp Football and America: World War II] , profootballhof.com, accessed May 31, 2007. ] They advanced to the championship game following the season, in which they lost to the Bears 37–9. Both the 1940 and 1941 championship games were close early before their respective opponents went on an offensive surge to break the games open late. In 1942 and 1943, the Giants totalled an 11–8–2 record and failed to make the postseason.

In 1944, led by standout halfback Bill Paschal, whose 737 rushing yards and 54 points led the team, the Giants reached the championship game where they faced the Green Bay Packers for the third time in ten seasons. They lost again, this time 14–7 as Ted Fritsch scored two touchdowns and the Packers defense was able to hold on to the lead despite a fourth quarter touchdown by the Giants. In 1946, NBC televised the Giants game versus the Green Bay Packers on September 20—the first televised game in league history. [ Fullerton. pg. 235 ] The Giants advanced to their eighth championship game in fourteen seasons, where they were beaten by the Sid Luckman led Bears 24–14. By 1946, Mara had given over complete control of the team to his two sons. Jack, the older son, controlled the business aspects, while Wellington controlled the on-field operations.

Before the 1948 season, the Giants signed defensive back Emlen Tunnell, who became the first African American player in team history, and who would later become the first African American inducted into the Hall of Fame. [ Pellowski. pg. 28 ] They struggled from 1947 to 1949, never finishing above .500, but came back with a solid 10–2 record in 1950. However, they lost to the Cleveland Browns, who they had beaten twice in the regular season, 8–3 in the 1950 divisional playoff game. [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1950 1950 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 20, 2007. ] In 1949, halfback Gene "Choo-Choo" Roberts scored a league high 17 touchdowns, [ Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 216 ] and in 1950 he set a team record that would stand for over 50 years, when he rushed for 218 yards on November 12. Lichtenstein. pg. 142 ]

During this period quarterback Charlie Conerly emerged. Conerly was the team's starting quarterback from 1948 to 1960, and had a franchise-record string of 12 consecutive seasons in which he led the team in passing. A former US Marine, Conerly was renowned among his teammates for his toughness. "There was a time my rookie year when I really saw it", recalled running back Frank Gifford. Schwartz. pg. 135 ] "He broke his nose really badly, they literally called a timeout and then they called another one while they stopped the bleeding, they stuck stuff up there until it would stop bleeding. You try to get them to do that today. They had be yelling, 'Get my agent!'". In 1951, the Giants finished 9–2–1, but their inability to beat division rival Cleveland cost them an opportunity to play in the Championship Game. Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 230 ] Fullback Eddie Price led the league in rushing and set a league record for rushing attempts in a season, and defensive linemen Arnie Weinmeister and Al Derogatis, linebacker Jon Baker, and offensive tackle Tex Coulter all made the All-Pro team. The following year the Giants fell to 7–5 but Tunnell continued to impress. "Tunnell returned interceptions, punts, and kickoffs with such electric flair that he actually outgained the league rushing leader in yards gained" according to one publication. Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 236 ] Tunnell amassed 924 yards, while never lining up on offense, whereas the league rushing leader totalled 894. The Giants offense struggled in 1953, Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 242 ] and they fell to a 3–9 record. Gifford was forced to play both ways due to a depleted roster, and in the second to last game of the season they lost 62–14 to division rival Cleveland.

Following the 1953 season, an important transition in Giants history occurred. Steve Owen was fired by Wellington and Jack Mara, and replaced by Jim Lee Howell. Owen had coached the Giants for 23 seasons, and compiled a 153–108–17 record. [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.jsp?franchise_id=21 New York Giants] , profootballhof.com, accessed June 2, 2007. ] He is credited with introducing several innovations to football, including inventing the "Umbrella defense", which was the first to use four defensive backs. [ Flores. pg. 71 ] Wellington, who was beginning to take a more active role in the team by this period, later described the move by calling it "the hardest decision I'd ever made". [Schwartz. pg. 95 ] The Giants went 7–5 in 1954 under Howell. In their thirty-first and final season playing their home games at the Polo Grounds in 1955, they went 5–1–1 over their final seven games to finish 6–5–1. They were led by the rejuvenated Gifford who played the entire season solely on offense for the first time in several years. [ Neft, Cohn, and Korch. pg. 254 ]

The Giants won their fourth NFL Championship in 1956. Playing their home games at Yankee Stadium for the first time, the Giants won the Eastern Division with an 8–3–1 record. In the NFL Championship Game on an icy field against the Chicago Bears, the Giants wore sneakers as they had 22 years previous. They dominated the Bears winning the championship by a score of 47–7. The 1956 Giants featured a number of future Hall of Fame players, including 1956 league MVP Frank Gifford, Sam Huff, and Roosevelt Brown. Equally notable, the team featured as its coordinators future Hall of Fame head coaches Tom Landry (defense) and Vince Lombardi (offense). Combined, the pair would later win 7 NFL championships as head coaches. In addition, those Giants featured Gifford, Kyle Rote, and Pat Summerall, who would go on to highly successful second careers as football announcers. The following season, the Giants lost their final 3 games to compile a 7–5 record, [ [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg1957.htm 1957 New York Giants] , pro-football-reference.com, accessed March 20, 2007. ] finishing second in the NFL's Eastern Division to the Jim Brown led Browns. [ [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1957.htm 1957 Standings] , pro-football-reference.com, accessed March 20, 2007. ]

The Greatest Game Ever Played: 1958

The Giants had another successful year in 1958. They tied for the Eastern Division regular season title with a 9–3 record, [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1958 1958 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com,accessed March 17, 2007. ] and beat the Cleveland Browns 10–0 in a one game playoff to determine the division winner. In the victory they held Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown to a career low eight yards rushing. [ Schwartz. pg. 24 ] They then played in the NFL Championship Game against the Baltimore Colts on December 28, 1958, in front of 64,185 fans at Yankee Stadium. [http://www.giants.com/history/ChampionshipGames1950present.asp Championship Games 1950–present] , giants.com, accessed January 12, 2007. ] This game, which would become known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played", was a The game itself was highly competitive. The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead; however the Colts scored two touchdowns to take a 14–3 halftime advantage. [http://www.nfl.com/news/story/5706748 Dec. 28, 1958: A legend is born] , NFL.com, accessed March 17, 2007. ] Late in the third quarter, the Colts appeared ready to put the game out of reach by driving deep into Giants' territory. However, they were stopped and turned the ball over on downs. [ Buckley Jr. pg. 11 ]

This would be a turning point of the game, as the Giants, who had trouble mounting many drives to that point, came back with a 95–yard drive. The key play of the drive was Conerly's pass to Kyle Rote, who after a 62–yard gain, fumbled at the Colts' 25–yard line, where Alex Webster picked up the ball and ran it to the 1–yard line. The Giants then scored a touchdown, to make the score 14–10. The Giants drove again, with quarterback Charley Conerly throwing a 15–yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford to take the lead, 17–14. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 272 ]

With slightly more than two minutes left the Giants punted the ball to the Colts, pinning them on their own 14 yard line. The Colts put together one last, desperate drive. The star of this drive was receiver Raymond Berry, who caught three passes for 62 yards, the last one for 22 yards to the Giant 13–yard line. With seven seconds left in regulation, Steve Myhra kicked a 20–yard field goal to tie the score 17–17, [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 272 ] sending the game to overtime for the first time in NFL history.

After winning the toss and receiving the ball, the Giants offense stalled and was forced to punt. From their own 20, the Colts drove the ball down the field, with Alan Ameche finally scoring from the 1–yard line to give the championship to the Colts, 23–17.

More success: 1959-1963

The Giants enjoyed a run of success over the next several years. Led by league MVP quarterback Charlie Conerly, who passed for 1,706 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions, they finished 9–3 in 1959 and faced the Colts in a championship game rematch. [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1959 1959 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 16, 2007. ] They lost again, this time in a far less dramatic game, 31–16. Conerly struggled with age and injuries in 1960, and was replaced by George Shaw. The team still finished with a solid 6–4–2 record, [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1960 1960 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 19, 2007. ] but were led to acquire former San Francisco 49ers quarterback YA Tittle in the offseason. Led by Tittle and newly hired head coach Allie Sherman, the Giants won three consecutive Eastern Division titles from 1961 to 1963. In 1961 they were beaten by the Packers, 37–0 in the championship game. In 1962, they went into the championship game with a league best 12–2 record, and a nine-game winning streak; but lost to the Packers again, 16–7. During the 1962 season, Tittle and wide receiver Del Shofner set still-standing team records when Tittle threw for seven touchdowns and Shofner amassed 269 receiving yards in the same game on October 28.

Led by league MVP Tittle, who passed for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns, [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TITTLYA01 YA Tittle] , databasefootball.com, accessed May 29, 2007. ] the Giants had an 11–3 record in 1963. They advanced to face the Chicago Bears in the NFL championship game. On an icy field the Giants defense played well, but the Bears newly invented zone defense intercepted Tittle five times (including one returned for a score) and injured Tittle in the first half (though Tittle finished the game). Several Giants players including linebacker Sam Huff pleaded with Sherman to replace Tittle, who the players felt was pressing and committing too many turnovers, from playing the second half. [Schwartz. pg. 155 ] Sherman however, had little alternative. "The old man kept saying 'I can do it. I feel a little better'" Sherman recalled. Schwartz. pg. 156 ] "We had a young quarterback (Glynn Griffing), he had gone to get married a couple of weeks earlier but failed to come back in the days he said he would. We couldn't use him." The Giants defense led by Hall of Famer Huff held the Bears in check, but they lost 14–10, their third straight NFL Championship Game defeat.

The Giants run of championship game appearances combined with their large market location translated into financial success. By the early 1960s, the Giants were receiving $175,000 a game under the NFL's television contract with CBS—four times as much as small-market Green Bay, which was one of the most successful teams of the era. However, in the league's new contract, the Maras convinced the other owners that it would be in the best interest of the NFL to share television revenue equally, a practice which is still current, and is credited with strengthening the league.

Wilderness years begin: 1964-1972

After the 1963 season, the team fell apart quickly, finishing 2–10–2 in 1964, beginning an 18–season playoff drought. This period in team history is often referred to as "the wilderness years". Following the season Gifford and Alex Webster announced their retirement, and Jack Mara, who had been President of the team for 31 years, died. The team rebounded with a 7–7 record in 1965, before compiling a league-worst 1–12–1 record, and allowing over 500 points on defense in 1966. [http://www.databasefootball.com/leagues/leagueyear.htm?lg=nfl&yr=1966 1966 NFL Standings, Stats and Awards] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007. ] This season also included a 72–41 loss [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1966 1966 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007. ] to the rival Washington Redskins at D.C. Stadium in the highest-scoring game in league history. Interest in the team was waning rapidly, especially with the rapid rise of the New York Jets, who featured a wide-open style of play and a charismatic young quarterback in Joe Namath.

Looking to improve their on-field product, and also to find a player with talent and star power to better compete with the Jets for New York fans' affections, the Giants acquired Fran Tarkenton from the Minnesota Vikings before the 1967 season and quickly showed improvement. They finished 7–7 in both the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Notably, in 1968, one of Tarkenton's favorite targets, wide receiver Homer Jones made the Pro Bowl. Through the 2006 season, no other Giants receiver has been selected for the Pro Bowl—a drought of 38 seasons. [Eisen, Michael. [http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=25578 Bradshaw Hopes to Prove Giants Right] , giants.com, March 21, 2007, accessed May 24, 2007. ] During the 1969 preseason, the Giants lost their first meeting with the Jets, 37–14, in front of 70,874 fans at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut. [Wallace, William M. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60816FC345E1B7493CAA81783D85F4D8685F9 Jets Beat Giants, 37-14; Namath Completes 14 of 16 Passes, 3 for Scores; BATTLE RETURNS PUNT FOR 86 YARDS 70,874 Fans See Jet Rookie Score in Yale Bowl -- Mathis Tallies Two Touchdowns] , "The New York Times", August 18, 1969, accessed March 18, 2007. ] Following the game, Wellington Mara fired coach Allie Sherman,Weinraub, Bernard. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B16FD3A5E1A7B93C1A81782D85F4D8685F9 Fans Show Mixed Emotions; Bad Trades Laid to Team's Pilot] , "The New York Times", September 13, 1969, accessed March 18, 2007. ] and replaced him with former Giants fullback Alex Webster. The firing was welcomed by Giants fans: a writer from "The New York Times" commented, " [t] he Giants last winning season was 1963 and since then the fans's sing-song chant "Good-by Allie!" has mounted to a crescendo." On opening day of the 1969 regular season, Tarkenton led the Giants to a 24–23 victory over his former team, the Vikings, by throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. [Vecsey, George. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60F11FA345E1B7493C0AB1782D85F4D8685F9 Giants' 2-Touchdown Rally Overcomes Vikings, 24-23; Herrmann Scores Twice On Passes Gogolak Kicks Extra Point With 59 Seconds Left to Win Opener at Home] , "The New York Times", September 22, 1969, accessed March 18, 2007. ] The Giants finished 6–8 in the 1969 season.

In 1970, Tarkenton's fourth with the Giants, the Giants showed marked improvement, fielding their most competitive team since the 1963 NFL finalist. After an 0–3 [http://databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1970 1970 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007. ] start the Giants won 9 out of their next 10, and went into their season finale against the Los Angeles Rams with a chance to win the NFC East Division. Though the Giants took an early 3–0 lead the Rams would score the next 31 points, dashing the Giants hopes and leaving them out of the playoffs. Tarkenton had his best season as a Giant in 1970 and made the Pro Bowl. Much of the team's success was credited to him. Teammate Fred Dryer later commented, " [w] ithout Tarkenton, I don't think we would have won any games." [ [http://vikings.scout.com/2/11607.html Fran Tarkenton] , scout.com, accessed March 18, 2007. ] Running back Ron Johnson also made the Pro Bowl and ran for 1,027 yards, becoming the first Giant ever to gain 1,000 yards rushing in a season.New York City Sports Commission. [http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/sports/html/giants_history.html Giants History] , ci.nyc.ny.us, accessed May 24, 2007. ] Meanwhile, the Jets, much as the Giants had in 1964, fell apart suddenly, dropping to a 4–10 record after several consecutive seasons of success, with Namath breaking his wrist in a Super Bowl III rematch with the Baltimore Colts and missing the final eight games.

The Giants were unable to build on their 1970 success. In 1971, Johnson missed most of the season with a knee injury, and the Giants dropped to 4–10, resulting in Tarkenton being traded back to the Vikings. Initially the trade produced positive results, as the Giants rallied to finish 8–6 in 1972. The 1972 team was led by veteran journeyman quarterback Norm Snead (acquired in the trade for Tarkenton), who led the league in passing and had the best season of his career. [Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 532 ] They set a still-standing team record on November 26 when they scored 62 points via eight touchdowns and two field goals. After the 1972 season however, the Giants suffered one of the worst prolonged stretches in their history. Meanwhile, Tarkenton would lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls and establish a Hall of Fame resume.

Leaving New York: 1973-1978

Desiring their own home stadium, in the early 1970s the Giants reached an agreement with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to play their home games at a brand-new, state-of-the-art, dedicated football stadium.Amdur, Neil. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0810F83C5A1A7493C2A8178BD95F428785F9 Pride of New Jersey: Stadium Designed for Comfort of Fans; Giants Stadium, Built for Comfort Of Fans, Is Pride of New Jersey] , "The New York Times", October 10, 1976, accessed May 12, 2007. ] The stadium, which would be known as Giants Stadium, was to be built at a brand new sports complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

As the complex was being built, and their current home at Yankee Stadium was being renovated, they would be without a home for three years. Their final full season at Yankee Stadium was 1972. After playing their first two games there in 1973, the Giants played the rest of their home games in 1973, as well as all of their home games in 1974, at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut. [http://www.giants.com/history/TheGiantsStadiums.asp The Giants Stadiums] , giants.com/history, accessed May 12, 2007. ] This was done primarily out of a desire to have their own home field, as opposed to having to share Shea Stadium with the Jets. [ Sprechman and Shannon. pg. 286 ] However, between access problems, neighborhood issues, the fact that the Yale Bowl was not ideally suited for pro football (the stadium did not have lights, nor does it have lights today), the age of the stadium (it was built in 1914) and the lack of modern amenities, the Giants reconsidered their decision and ultimately agreed to share Shea Stadium with the Jets for the 1975 season. The Giants left Yale Bowl after losing all seven home games played at Yale in the 1974 season and compiling a home record of 1–11 over that two year stretch. [ [http://www.giants.com/photos/yby_73_78.pdf Year by Year results (1973-1978)] (PDF), giants.com/history, accessed May 12, 2007. ]

One of the bright spots in this era was the play of tight end Bob Tucker who, from 1970 through part of the 1977 season was one of the top tight ends in the NFL. He led the league with 59 receptions in 1971, becoming the first Giant ever to do so. [Pellowski. pg. 34 ] Tucker amassed 327 receptions, 4,322 yards and 22 touchdowns during his years as a Giant. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TUCKEBOB01 Bob Tucker] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 14, 2007. ]

] -->Despite their new home and heightened fan interest, the Giants still played subpar in 1976 and 1977. 1977 also featured the unusual choice of three rookies quarterbacks on the roster. [Katz, Michael. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30E1EFB3A5F117A93C1A81782D85F438785F9 Giants Go With Youth and Cut Ramsey; McVay Draws a Line] , "The New York Times", September 13, 1977, accessed March 21, 2007. ] In 1978, the Giants started the year 5–6 [http://databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1978 1978 New York Giants] , databasefootball.com, accessed March 17, 2007. ] and played the Eagles at home with a chance to solidify their playoff prospects. However, the season imploded on November 19, 1978, in one of the most improbable finishes in NFL history. Playing their arch rival the Philadelphia Eagles the Giants were leading 17–12 and had possession of the ball with only 30 seconds left.Katz, Michael. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50716FE355C12728DDDA90A94D9415B888BF1D3 20 Seconds Left As Eagles Win; Jets Bow; Todd Reinjured] , "The New York Times", November 20, 1978, accessed March 18, 2007. ] They had only to kneel the ball to end the game, as the Eagles had no time outs.

However, instead of kneeling the ball, offensive coordinator Bob Gibson ordered Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik to run play "pro 65 up", which was designed to hand the ball off to fullback Larry Csonka. Pisarcik never gained control of the ball after the snap however, and gave a wobbly handoff to Csonka. The ball rolled off Csonka's hip and bounced free. Eagles safety Herman Edwards picked up the loose ball and ran, untouched, for a score, giving the Eagles an improbable 19–17 victory. After the game Giants coach John McVay stated " [t] hat's the most horrifying ending to a ball game I've ever seen." This play is referred to as "The Miracle in the Meadowlands" among Eagles fans, and "The Fumble" among Giants fans.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired, and the Giants lost three out of their last four games to finish out of the playoffs for the 15th straight season, leading them to let McVay go as well. Two games after the "The Fumble" angry Giants fans burned tickets in the parking lot. Protests continued throughout the remainder of the season, reaching a crescendo in the final home game. A group of fans hired a small plane to fly over the stadium on game day carrying a banner that read: "15 years of lousy football ... we've had enough." The game had 24,374 no-shows, and fans hanged an effigy of Wellington Mara in the Stadium parking lot. [ [http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/giants-broncos-super-bowl-xxi/ The 5th down] , "The New York Times", June 3, 2007, reprints of various articles, accessed June 3, 2007. ] However, following the 1978 season came the steps that would, in time, lead the Giants back to the pinnacle of the NFL.

ee also

*New York Giants seasons
*Logos and Uniforms of the New York Giants
*List of New York Giants players

Notes

ources

*Buckley, James Jr. "Great Moments in Football", Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 2002 ISBN 0836853601
*Carroll, John Martin. "Grange and the Rise of Modern Football", Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999 ISBN 0252071662
*Gottehrer, Barry. "The Giants of New York, the history of professional football's most fabulous dynasty.", New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1963 OCLC 1356301
*Lichtenstein, Michael. "The New York Giants Trivia Book", New York: St. Martin's Press, 2001 ISBN 0312286643
*Flores, Tom. "Coaching Football", New York: McGraw Hill, 2006 ISBN 0071439145
*Frostino, Nino. "Right on the Numbers", British Columbia: Trafford Publishing, 2004 ISBN 1412033055

*Fullerton, John. "Screen Culture: History and Textuality", London: Indiana University Press, 2004 ISBN 0861966457
*Neft, David S., Cohen, Richard M., and Korch, Rick. "The Complete History of Professional Football from 1892 to the Present." New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994 ISBN 0312114354
*Pellowski, Steve. "The Little Giant Book of Football Facts", New York: Sterling Publishing, 2005 ISBN 1402723903
*Schwartz, John. "Tales from the New York Giants Sideline", Champaign: Sports Publishing LLC, 2004 ISBN 1582617589
*Sprechman, Jordan and Shannon, Bill. "This Day in New York Sports", Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1998 ISBN 1571672540
*Watterson, John Sayle. "College Football: history, spectacle, controversy", Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2000 ISBN 080187114X

External links

* [http://www.giants.com/history/index.html giants.com/history]