Playing in The Big Apple means high-profile players get even more attention, not just from local fans and media, but from around the NFL. However, the New York Giants have rostered some all-time greats that most fans don't typically associate with the team. Here are five players you may have forgotten played for the Giants.
5. Herschel Walker, 1995
Calling Walker a dominant college runner is like saying the sun is bright. In just three seasons at Georgia, he totaled 5,259 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. However, he did not head straight to the NFL. After saying he was interested in playing for only the Dallas Cowboys, Giants, or New York Jets, Walker played three seasons for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, dominating in that league as well. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by Dallas, a move that paid off as the USFL folded. Walker played well for Dallas before being sent to the Minnesota Vikings in the most lopsided trade in league history. He spent two-and-a-half seasons in Minnesota before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, playing two seasons.
In 1995, Walker signed a three-year deal with the Giants, but carried the ball only 31 times for 126 yards and was released after the season. For a player with his natural ability and collegiate hype, Walker's time with the G-Men was extremely forgettable.
4. Morten Andersen, 2001
There are only two kickers enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (there will be three after Adam Vinatieri makes it in a few years), and Andersen is one of them. He played from 1982 to 2007, appearing in 382 games, an NFL record. He is second all-time to only Vinatieri in both field goals and points scored, and played for five teams throughout his career. He spent the 2001 campaign in New York, nailing 23 of his 28 field goal attempts and 29 of 30 extra points. He was a solid kicker for the Giants, but for a player with a 26-year career, one season with a team is just a blip on the radar.
3. Fran Tarkenton, 1967-1971
Tarkenton is a Hall of Famer for his time in Minnesota, where he went 91-73-6 as a starter, making eight Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team. He was one of the league's greatest passers during his time, playing in an era when the forward pass was not nearly as prevalent as it is today. He was traded to New York in 1967, and started five seasons for the Giants. He went 33-36, throwing for 13,905 yards, 103 touchdowns, and 72 interceptions. He was traded back to the Vikings in 1972, playing seven more seasons, three of which ended in a Super Bowl appearance, although Minnesota lost each time.
2. Larry Csonka, 1976-1978
One of the league's all-time great fullbacks, Csonka was a key part of the Miami Dolphins 1972 perfect season, winning the Super Bowl that year and in 1973. After six seasons in Miami, Csonka, along with teammate Paul Warfield, signed with the World Football League, which folded after one year. He signed with the Giants in 1976, and spent three seasons with the team, finding marginal success. He returned to the Dolphins in 1979 and retired afterwards. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987, his time in New York long forgotten.
1. Kurt Warner, 2004
One of the NFL's all-time great stories, Warner wasn't drafted in 1994, spent time in the Arena League and stocked shelves at a grocery store just to make ends meet, and barely made the St. Louis Rams roster in 1998 as a backup. A year later, he was thrust into action after starter Trent Green went down with an injury, and the rest is history. Warner made the All-Pro team and led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory, and was the leader of the Greatest Show on Turf over the next few seasons. After some injury issues, the Rams released Warner at the conclusion of the 2003 campaign, and the Giants signed him to a 0ne-year deal that included a second-year player option. Warner started the first nine games of the season before giving way to highly-touted rookie Eli Manning, and decided not to return to New York, opting instead to join the Arizona Cardinals where he revitalized his career, eventually making it to another Super Bowl. It didn't last long, but Manning certainly benefited from sitting behind a respected veteran like Warner.
Follow Us
Subscribe