While not as well known for their Hall of Fame history of quarterbacks as a team like the Green Bay Packers or their arch-rival Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants have had a solid group of quarterbacks at the helm of the offense over the years, going from good to great.
Here we will break down the best of the best in Giants history with the five best quarterbacks.
5. Fran Tarkenton
While more known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings, Fran Tarkenton played in New York for five years from 1967 to 1971. In his stint with the Giants, he would go to the Pro Bowl following every season except for the 1971 campaign. In those five years, Tarkenton threw for 13,905 yards and 103 touchdowns.
4. Kerry Collins
Another quarterback more known for his time with another franchise, with Collins being more recognized as a member of the Tennessee Titans. However, Collins' one Super Bowl appearance was with the Giants, when he led New York to Super Bowl XXXV following the 2000 season.
In his time with the Giants, he threw for 16,875 yards and 81 touchdowns. He has multiple Giants' records, including playoff single-game passing yards and touchdowns, along with most passing yards per game in the playoffs for both a season and his career. He also has the highest passer rating in Giants history.
3. YA Tittle
Coming to the Giants a few years after The Greatest Game Ever Played, YA Tittle was considered washed up when he came to New York, but he proved all the naysayers wrong, winning Most Valuable Player in 1963.
Playing for the Giants from 1961 to 1964, Tittle made the Pro Bowl each of his first three years in New York and led the NFL in passing touchdowns in both 1962 and 1963. While the stat was not recorded at the time, retroactive stats have shown that Tittle led the league in passer rating in his MVP season of '63. Overall he threw for 10,439 yards and 96 touchdowns with New York.
Tittle's number 14 was retired by the franchise, and he is part of the Giants Ring of Honor.
2. Phil Simms
A lifer with Big Blue, Phil Simms led the franchise to two Super Bowls – Super Bowl XXI and XXV. Simms was not able to play in the second Super Bowl victory due to an injury earlier in the season, but in the first one, he led the team to the franchise's first Super Bowl, being awarded Super Bowl MVP.
Along with the Super Bowl MVP, Simms made the Pro Bowl twice, in 1985 and 1993. Overall Simms threw for 33,462 yards and 199 touchdowns. His number 11 has been retired and he is in the Giants Ring of Honor.
1. Eli Manning
A controversial pick for some to put him at No. 1, Eli Manning finished what both Kerry Collins and Phil Simms started, leading the Giants to not one, but two Lombardi Trophies. Leading the Giants to two Super Bowl victories with Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, Manning was named Super Bowl MVP in both victories over the New England Patriots, most notably defeating the undefeated 18-0 Patriots in 2007.
While Manning had his ups and downs in New York, those two Super Bowls cannot be taken away from him and the clutch moments he accomplished cannot either. From leading the Giants through the maelstrom after making the playoffs as a wild card in 2007 all the way to beating the undefeated Patriots to the miraculous scramble and throw to David Tyree in that Super Bowl game, Manning showed throughout his career that in the most pivotal moments, nobody could beat him.
Another thing that could not be taken away from him (until it was) was his work ethic, starting every game from his first in 2004 all the way until he was benched by Ben McAdoo in 2017. While the latter part of his career was not what anyone would have wanted to see, his legacy as another Giant lifer cannot be denied.
Along with the two Super Bowl MVPs, he was also named to the Pro Bowl four times. He holds the NFL record for most yards thrown in a playoff campaign, with 1,219 yards thrown throughout his 2011 Super Bowl run. He also holds the Giants' record in just about every passing category, including career passing yards and touchdowns, as well as playoff career yards and touchdowns.
His number 10 has already been retired by New York.
Follow Us
Subscribe