History of the New York Giants (1925–1978)
The history of the
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 14-year span from 1933 to 1946, New York 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
From 1964 to 1978, the Giants registered just two winning seasons and were unable to advance to the playoffs. During this period the team also traded away
Birth and success: 1925–1930
In 1925, the NFL was in need of a franchise in a large city market that could be used to showcase the league. To achieve this,
Mara soon realized that his purchase of the team did not yield a home field nor any players, coaches, or equipment. Harry March, who was part of the group that convinced Mara to buy the team from the league, helped him establish the team by taking a job as the team's secretary. March guiding him through the team's early years, handling the personnel decisions. Mara rented the Polo Grounds as the team's stadium, and March developed a strategy that hinged on acquiring college stars such as Jim Thorpe.[9] At 37 years old, Thorpe was a shadow of his former self, and although he signed with the team, his contract required that he only play parts of games during the early portion of the season, until he got into shape, at which point he would play full games. He played only the first regular season game however, before ending his Giants career due to injury.[10] His absence would severely hurt the team's monetary outlook for the season.[11]
Although the Giants were successful on the field in their first season, going 8–4 in 1925,[12] their financial status was a different story. The players' salaries were so low that they could not fully dedicate themselves to the game as most of them had to work other jobs. The team's abbreviated practices, held at 4:30 PM each day so as not to conflict with work schedules, also allowed for little in-season improvement.[13] 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.[14] This struggle continued until the 11th game of the season when Red Grange and the Chicago Bears came to town, attracting more than 73,000 fans—a pro football record.[15] The game attracted such attention that 20,000 fans were turned away at the gates.[16] This gave the Giants a much needed influx of revenue, and perhaps altered the history of the franchise.[17][18]
New York went 8–4–1 in 1926,[12] 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.[14] Grange's agent, C.C. Pyle, had tried to get the franchise admitted into the NFL using Yankee Stadium but was blocked by Mara, who asserted his territorial rights clause. Angered, Pyle swore revenge, saying "I am now ready to put the National Football League, and Mr. Mara out of business."[19] According to a story published by The New York Times in December 1926, the Giants lost over $50,000 during the season.[20] Grange's league lasted one season however, and was subsumed into the NFL.[14] Grange went back to playing for the Bears before the 1928 season, and the Yankees folded a year later.[21]
The Giants had a very successful season in 1927, finishing 11–1–1.[22] Mara had instructed March to spend freely to acquire talent, and he signed Cal Hubbard, a 6'5" 245 lb. two-way end, who had led small Geneva College to a victory over then-powerful Harvard the previous year.[23] Led by team captain, defensive tackle Steve Owen, they held their opponents to 20 points on the season,[24] with their league best defense posting 10 shutouts in 13 games.[25] On offense, they were led by halfback Jack McBride, whose 57 points led the league in scoring, and his versatile backfield partner Hinkey Haines.[25][26] New coach Earl Potteiger led the team into a game against the Chicago Bears late in the season with first place on the line. New York won 13–7 in what Owen called, "the toughest, roughest football game I ever played."[27] From then on it was an easy trip to the championship,[28] 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 Hubbard and Steve Owen,
In 1930, there were still many who questioned the quality of the professional game, claiming the college "amateurs" played with more intensity.
Steve Owen era: 1931–1953
Following the 1930 season, Friedman retired to become an assistant coach at
Pre–World War II era: 1931–1940
Friedman was lured back halfway through the 1931 season, and,[42] but the Giants struggled the next two seasons, finishing with a combined record of 11–12–3.[12] They rebounded in 1933 finishing 11–3, and narrowly losing to the Chicago Bears 23–21 in the championship game.[43] New York's 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.[44] Hein, the team's center, was acquired in 1931, and also played the linebacker position.[45] He would go on to a fifteen-year NFL career in which, as a center, he became an All-NFL first team selection eight times, and the only offensive lineman ever named league MVP.[46] 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.[26]
The Giants started 1–5–1 in 1932, leading Owen to re-enlist McBride, who had been recently released by the Brooklyn Dodgers for lax practice habits, as the team's starting quarterback. McBride restored them to respectability by leading the team to a 3–1–1 finish that season.
The game was the teams' third meeting of the season. The Bears won the first one, 14–10, and the Giants the second, 3–0.
The core of New York's 1933 team returned intact in 1934 and they added talented quarterback Ed Danowski who had played collegiately at Fordham the previous year.[56] Owen played Danowski sparingly, ignoring chants from the spectators for the quarterback. The New York fan base consisted of many Long Islanders and Fordham graduates who were eager to see Danowski play. Newman carried the ball a then-record 39 times in a 17–3 victory against Green Bay, but suffered a severe injury to his back in a late season game against Chicago, and his backup, Stu Clancy, was still out due to an elbow injury from a mid-season game. Because of these injuries, Danowski, by default, became the team's starting quarterback. The team finished 8–5, which placed them first in the Eastern Division.[57][58] Without Newman, Clancy, and Badgro—who was also out due to injury—Owen knew the team was undermanned going into the playoffs, but said "I know it doesn't look good, but we'll give 'em a battle."[59]
Although they signed McBride, who had spent the 1934 season playing on a
Before the 1935 season the NFL's roster limit was increased from 20 to 24 players.
By 1935 19‑year‑old Wellington had become the team's secretary, and he started to exert influence over personnel decisions. Wellington was a fan of
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."[74] Danowski led the league in passing in 1935 and 1936.[75] 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 close one with New York having ridden two blocked Green Bay punts to an early lead, before the Packers came back to take a 17–16 lead. In the fourth quarter however, Danowski threw a 23–yard touchdown pass to Hank Soar,[22] 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 27–0.[22]
World War II era: 1941–1944
They finished 8–3 in 1941,
In 1944, led by standout halfback Bill Paschal, whose 737 rushing yards and 54 points led the team,[26] the Giants reached the championship game where they faced the Green Bay Packers for the third time in 10 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.[22]
Notable in this era was a game against the Detroit Lions on November 7, 1943 which ended in a scoreless tie,[79][80][81] the last NFL game ever played to end this way. The defensive unit of the 1944 Giants team is ranked #1 of all time in NFL history,[82] giving up only 7.5 points per game – a record that stands to this day.
Post World War II era: 1945–1953
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.[4] NBC televised the Giants game versus the Green Bay Packers on September 20, 1946,—the first televised game in league history.[83] The Giants advanced to their eighth championship game in fourteen seasons, where they were beaten by the Sid Luckman led Bears 24–14.[22]
Before the 1948 season, New York signed
During this period quarterback
Jim Lee Howell and the Hall of Famers: 1954–1958
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.[94] Owen had coached the Giants for 23 seasons, and compiled a 153–108–17 record.[14] He is credited with introducing several innovations to football, including inventing the "Umbrella defense", which was the first to use four defensive backs.[95] 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".[96] The change would have a profound impact on Gifford. A multi-talented player who could run, catch, and throw, Gifford was a star at the University of Southern California as a quarterback and runner, and while at the school he had bit parts in some Hollywood films.[97] After clashing with Owen, whom he considered a taskmaster, and inspiring jealousy in some of his teammates who despised his "glamour boy" status, Gifford thrived under Howell. Lombardi switched him from defensive back, where he was already a pro bowl performer, to halfback, and Gifford made seven pro bowls at the position.[98] The Giants went 7–5 in 1954 under Howell.[12] 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.[93] They were led by the rejuvenated Gifford who played the entire season solely on offense for the first time in several years.[99]
The Giants won their fourth NFL Championship in 1956. Playing their home games at
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,[106] and beat the Cleveland Browns 10–0 in a one-game playoff to determine the division winner.[106] In the victory they held Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown to a career low eight yards rushing.[107] 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.[108] This game, which would become known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played", was a watershed event in the history of the NFL and marked the beginning of the rise of football into the dominant sport in the American market.[109][110]
The game itself was highly competitive. New York got off to a quick 3–0 lead; however Baltimore scored two touchdowns to take a 14–3 halftime advantage.[111] 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.[112]
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.[111] 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. New York then scored a touchdown, to make the score 14–10.[111] The Giants drove again, with quarterback Charley Conerly throwing a 15–yard touchdown pass to Frank Gifford to take the lead, 17–14.[113]
With just over two minutes left the Giants punted the ball to the Colts, pinning them on their own 14 yard line.[111] The Colts put together one last, desperate drive. The star of this drive was receiver Raymond Berry, who caught three passes for 62 yards,[111] the last one for 22 yards to the Giant 13–yard line.[111] With seven seconds left in regulation, Steve Myhra kicked a 20–yard field goal to tie the score 17–17, sending the game to overtime for the first time in NFL history.[113]
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.[111]
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,
Led by league MVP Tittle, who passed for over 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns,
New York's 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.[4] 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.[4][129]
Wilderness years begin: 1964–1972
I think the Jets coming in when they did [1964] contributed to our bad years, because we tried to do everything for the short term rather than the long haul — we'd trade a draft choice for a player, figuring he'd give us one or two good years. We didn't want to accept how the public might react if we had a bad year or two or three.[130]
— Wellington Mara
After the 1963 season, the team fell apart. Partly due to trades but also due to poor drafting. Sherman traded away key players on the team's defense — such as Huff and defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski — which was their strongest unit,[120] and Wellington Mara, who came in the 1960s with a reputation as a shrewd judge of talent, exited the decade carrying a sub-par one according to a writer for New York magazine.[131] Modzelewski went on to make the pro bowl in Cleveland in 1964, while Huff did the same in Washington.[132] First round draft choices such as running backs Joe Don Looney, Tucker Frederickson, and Rocky Thompson were disappointments.[133] Frederickson was selected as the first overall draft choice in 1965 (over Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers), but never rushed for more than 659 yards in a season during his injury-shortened career.[134][135] This period in team history is often referred to as "the wilderness years".[4]
The Week two game of the 1964 season was played in Pittsburgh. Tittle was brutally tackled by Steelers defensive end John Baker during the second quarter. It was here that Morris Berman, a photographer for the Pittsburgh Gazette, snapped a now famous picture of the injured quarterback kneeling on the ground with blood running down his scalp.
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 quarterback Fran Tarkenton from the Minnesota Vikings before the 1967 season and showed improvement.[142] They finished 7–7 in both the 1967 and 1968 seasons.[12] In those seasons, one of Tarkenton's favorite targets, wide receiver Homer Jones made the Pro Bowl by amassing over 2,200 yards and 21 touchdowns.[143] The team also upset the division champion Dallas Cowboys 27–21 in one of their biggest wins in years, and the Giants' jubilant players carried Sherman off the field on their shoulders. After the game, Wellington Mara said he expected Sherman to remain the team's coach for several more seasons,[144] however, after starting 7–3 they lost their final four games.[145]
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.[146] Three weeks later, Wellington Mara fired Sherman,[147] and replaced him with former Giants fullback Alex Webster. Sherman was a lax disciplinarian, who Gifford later said "wanted to be loved and that's deadly for a coach."[138] The firing was welcomed by 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."[148] 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.[149] New York finished 6–8 in the 1969 season under Webster.[12]
In 1970, Tarkenton's fourth with the Giants, New York showed marked improvement, fielding their most competitive team since 1963. After an 0–3 start the Giants won 9 out of their next 10,
New York was unable to build on their 1970 success. Tarkenton left the team's 1971 training camp in a salary dispute, before coming back a few days later after signing a one-year contract.[153] In place of a salary increase, Tarkenton had asked for a large loan to get a tax break, but the Maras turned it down, and made sure the press knew the raise and loan were denied.[154] Johnson missed most of the season with a knee injury, and the Giants dropped to 4–10.[12] Before the 1972 season they traded Tarkenton, who frequently feuded with Webster, back to the Vikings.[155] Initially the trade produced positive results, as New York rallied to finish 8–6 in 1972.[12] 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.[156] They set a still-standing team record on November 26 when they scored 62 points via eight touchdowns and two field goals.[157] 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.[158] The stadium, which would be known as Giants Stadium, was to be built at a brand new sports complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[158]
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.[159] This was done out of a desire to have their own home field, as opposed to having to share Shea Stadium with the Jets.[160] 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 (teams must dress at the Smilow Field Center and walk 200 yards to the stadium since there are no on-site locker rooms), the Giants reconsidered their decision and ultimately agreed to share Shea Stadium with the Jets for the 1975 season.[159] 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.[161]
After the 1973 season the team fired Webster, who later admitted his heart was never in head coaching, and said he more enjoyed life as an assistant.[138] They hired retired star defensive end Andy Robustelli to run their football operations, and he picked Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Bill Arnsparger as the team's head coach. Arnsparger had built an enviable reputation as the architect of the Dolphins defense which helped the team to two Super Bowl championships.[162] Robustelli traded their 1975 first round draft choice to the Cowboys (who used it to select Hall of Fame defensive lineman Randy White) for quarterback Craig Morton in the middle of the 1974 season.[163]
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.[164] Tucker amassed 327 receptions, 4,322 yards and 22 touchdowns during his years as a Giant.[165]
Despite their new home and heightened fan interest, New York suffered posted a 3–11 season in 1976. After compiling a 7–28 record Arsnparger was fired during the middle of that year.
However, instead of kneeling the ball,
In the aftermath of the defeat, Gibson was fired (the next morning).[167] New York lost three out of their last four games[169] to finish 6-10 and out the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, leading them to let McVay go as well. Two games after "The Fumble", angry Giants fans burned tickets in the parking lot.[4] 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." Fans in the stadium responded, chanting "We've had enough...We've had enough" after the plane flew overhead.[171] The game had 24,374 no-shows, and fans hanged an effigy of Wellington Mara in the Stadium parking lot.[172] However, following the 1978 season came the steps that would, in time, lead the Giants back to the pinnacle of the NFL.
See also
- List of New York Giants seasons
- Logos and uniforms of the New York Giants
- List of New York Giants players
Notes
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- ^ Walsh. pg. 100
- ^ Schwartz. pg. 67
- ^ a b c d e f g Burke, Monte. Turning $500 Into A $573 Million NFL Team, forbes.com, August 29, 2003, accessed June 1, 2007.
- ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 25–6
- ^ Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 112
- ^ a b New York First Game & First Home Game Program Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine, hapmoran.org, accessed February 14, 2011.
- ^ New York Pro Eleven Takes Opening Game, The New York Times, October 5, 1925, accessed March 16, 2007
- ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 25–7, 45
- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 28–9
- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 30
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q New York Giants, footballreference.com, accessed November 2, 2010.
- ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 27–8
- ^ a b c d New York Giants, profootballhof.com, accessed June 2, 2007.
- ^ Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 52
- ^ Watterson. pg. 154
- ^ NFL History: 1921-1930 Archived 2016-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, NFL.com/history, accessed May 13, 2007.
- ^ Carroll. pg. 126
- ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 40–1
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 49
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Championship games 1925-1949 Archived 2007-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, giants.com, accessed January 12, 2007.
- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 54
- ^ a b Pervin. pg. 19
- ^ a b Neft, Cohen, and Korch, Rick. pg. 68
- ^ PDF), giants.com/history, accessed May 12, 2007.
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- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 115
- ^ Gottehrer. pgs. 115–6
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- ^ Gottehrer. pg. 126
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External links