Despite the disaster that was 2017, the New York Giants have had plenty of impact players take the field over the past decade.
It might be hard to believe after last season, but the New York Giants have had some of their greatest success over the past 10 seasons, a run that included two NFC East titles and, more importantly, two Super Bowl victories.
While that success was a team effort, some of the greatest, most impactful players to put on Giants’ blue have taken the field during that time.
Since it’s Throwback Thursday, what better time than to rank them?
Honorable mention: Brandon Jacobs
Everyone loved Brandon Jacobs’ bruising style of running and his infectious personality, but the beast of the backfield falls just shy of making the cut here.
10. Landon Collins
Collins has led the Giants in tackles in each of his first three seasons in the league and is the lone Giant to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons.
He is quickly emerging as one of the NFL’s best safeties and is becoming a vocal leader on and off the field for the Giants. One of general manager Dave Gettleman’s priorities, when the 2018 season is over, will be to sign Collins to a long-term deal.
9. Hakeem Nicks
Big Blue’s first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Nicks’ career got off to a bright start. From 2009-2011, he had 202 receptions for 3,034 yards and 24 touchdowns. But injuries would slowly and surely diminish his career.
Still, no one will ever forget his performance in the 2011 postseason when he had 28 receptions for 444 yards and four touchdowns, eclipsing the 100-yard receiving mark in three of the Giants four postseason games.
8. Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw is the last Giants running back to rush for 1,000 yards, racking up 1,015 yards in 2012. He also had a career-high 1,235 yards back in 2010. Over his six years with the team, he carried the ball 921 times for 4,232 yards and 32 touchdowns.
But two plays stand out as the highlights of his career: An 88-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16 of the 2007 season that clinched a playoff berth for the Giants, and, of course, his game-winning touchdown run against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 46.
The Giants have been trying to replace his production in the backfield ever since he left.
7. Osi Umenyiora
Umenyiora was the lone Giant to be named to the Pro Bowl in 2007 when he had 13 sacks and was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. One of those honors came in Week 4 when he set a franchise-record with six sacks of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
A torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2008 season but he was still an effective pass rusher upon his return, registering 33.5 sacks from 2009-2012. It’s hard to imagine the Giants winning two Super Bowls over the last decade without him.
6. Victor Cruz
Cruz set the Giants single-season receiving yards mark in 2011 with 1,536 and became an immediate sensation and crowd favorite. The undrafted free agent out of UMass’ affable personality and salsa dancing had something to do with that as well.
His 99-yard touchdown in Week 16 against the Jets and his 74-yard touchdown in Week 17 against the Cowboys helped propel the Giants into the playoffs and began their Super Bowl run.
He would make the Pro Bowl in 2012 but injuries began to derail his career in 2014. Injuries may have cut his career short, but you can’t deny the impact he made on the franchise.
5. Jason Pierre-Paul
Before his infamous July 4, 2015 fireworks accident, JPP was one of the most feared pass rushers in the league.
Many felt he should have been named Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 when, not only did he lead the Giants in sacks with 16.5, but made several key plays throughout the season, including a block of Dan Bailey’s game-tying field goal in the Giants 37-34 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
His 58.5 sacks are the seventh-most in the history of the franchise.
4. Chris Snee
Offensive linemen often get overlooked but Snee was one of the best guards of his era. He was named First-Team All-Pro in 2008 and 2010 with a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2009. He was also voted to four Pro Bowl teams and was a vital part of the Super Bowl 42 and 46 teams.
To show how impactful Snee was, consider this: His last full season, in 2012, was the last time the Giants rushing attack was in the top half of the league (14th).
3. Justin Tuck
When you think of the Giants’ last two Super Bowl teams, the two names that standout are Eli Manning and Justin Tuck. Following the retirement of Michael Strahan after the 2007 season, Tuck became the vocal leader of the team and always came up big when the team needed him most.
In the Giants two Super Bowl wins over the Patriots, Tuck accounted for four sacks, a forced fumble and an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in the first points of Super Bowl 46. He was also was named to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2010.
2. Odell Beckham Jr.
Although he’s only appeared in 47 regular season games, Beckham has established himself as one a once-in-a-generation talent and one of the best players in the league.
Everytime that he’s played in at least 12 games in a season he’s been voted to the Pro Bowl. He was the fastest receiver in NFL history to 300 receptions and 3,500 receiving yards. Only 25, OBJ is entering the prime of his career which means the best may still be yet to come.
1. Eli Manning
Manning came of age in the 2007 postseason and led the Giants on their miraculous playoff run, culminating in the upset of the then-undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl 42 and Eli picking up his first Super Bowl MVP Award.
He did it again four years later, besting Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl 46.
Over the last 10 years, Manning has an 8-2 playoff record, was voted to the Pro Bowl four times, and has become the franchise leader in every significant passing category.
He’s without a doubt a future Hall of Famer and the best quarterback in the history of the franchise.
