NFL Team History - The New York Giants

The New York Giants franchise was established by Tim Mara in 1925 and became a member of the National Football League. They quickly emerged as one of the leading organizations in the NFL. The Giants would experience defeat in their first three games, however, they countered by ending their introductory season with seven consecutive victories.

In 1927, the Giants posted an imposing record of 11-1-1. Also included in the 11 wins were ten shutouts. With the advantage of possessing the NFL's best record, they were recognized as the NFL Champions.

In the early 1930's, the New York Giants franchise encountered financial instability. In 1931, owner Tim Mara would concede his day to day operations of the team to his two sons Jack and Wellington. Mara's youngest son Wellington was only 14 years old at the time. The team would begin to enhance their on-field production in 1933 as the Giants faced the Chicago Bears in the first NFL Championship Game. However, it was the Bears that earned the right to be called NFL Champions. For thirteen subsequent seasons, the Giants appeared in seven NFL Championship games. In those seven showdowns, they only won two. In 1934, the Giants conquered the championship with a 30-13 victory over the Chicago Bears at Polo Grounds in a game that would become identified as 'The Sneaker Game'. After struggling in the first-half of the game, they played the second-half of the game in basketball sneakers.

Furthermore, the Giants claimed the NFL Championship in 1938 when they defeated the Green Packers 23-17, also played at the storied Polo Grounds.

The Giants returned to the NFL Championship Game in 1950; however, they lost a defensive fight to the Cleveland Browns by a baseball-esque score of 8-3.

In 1956, the Giants would move their home games to Yankee Stadium after 31 years at the dated Polo Grounds. Additionally, the NFL Championship Game between the Giants and Chicago Bears was played at Yankee Stadium. Much to the fans satisfaction, the Giants stomped the Bears 47-7.

In 1958, the Giants would face the Baltimore Colts in the NFL Championship Game in what was the first major telecast for professional football. The Colts edged out the Giants 23-17 in a game that included an overtime session.

A year later, the Giants had an opportunity to redeem themselves against the Colts as they met in the NFL Championship for a second consecutive season. Unfortunately, they were unable to execute revenge as they lost by a score of 31-16.

In 1959, the New York Giants founder Tim Mara passed away.

As the 1960's commenced, so did a decade of decline for the Giants. After suffering defeat in the 1963 NFL Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, they would not complete a season with a winning record for the remainder of the decade. However, in 1970, the Giants posted a regular season with a 9-5 record.

Throughout the 1970's, the Giants failed to clinch a single post-season berth. In 1976, the New York Giants began playing their home games at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. The Giants proceeded with streamlining the organization. In 1979, they drafted the practically unknown quarterback Phil Simms in the. Two years later, they selected linebacker Lawrence Taylor, later known as LT, in the 1981 NFL Draft.

With a 9-7 record in 1981, the Giants would appear in the post-season for the first time in 18 years. Following their upset victory over the favored Philadelphia Eagles, a game in which they won 27-21, the Giants would face the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately, the Giants fell victim to the eventual Super Bowl Champions.

In 1982, fresh off of another disappointing season, the Giants promoted defensive coordinator Bill Parcells to the head coach position.

Parcells was a main component of the New York Giants resurgence. After guiding the Giants into the playoffs in 1984 and 1985, they would earn their first trip to the Super Bowl in 1986 after posting a record of 14-2, and then demolishing the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins in their post-season match-ups. In Super Bowl XXI at Pasadena, California, the Giants faced the AFC Champion Denver Broncos. After trailing 10-9 at halftime, the Giants turned up the wick in the second-half as they went on to pound the Broncos by a score of 39-20. This would become the Giants first league championship since 1956.

Lineback Lawrence Taylor was suspended for the first four games of the 1988 season after it was revealed that he had abused cocaine. This was Taylor's second violation for failing to comply with the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The Giants returned to the Super Bowl in 1990 following their upset victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Buffalo Bills were the Giants opponents in Super Bowl XXV. The showdown between the two New York-based teams provided one of the most exhilarating finishes in the history of the game. With ten seconds remaining in the game, the Giants had a 20-19 lead; however, the Bills had set up a 47 yard field goal attempt for placekicker Scott Norwood. Providentially for the Giants faithful, Norwood failed to convert on the game-winning field goal. Following their second Super Bowl triumph in four years, Bill Parcells resigned from his head coach position.

The decade of the 1990's was considered subpar for the Giants franchise. Following the resignation of Parcells and the departure of quarterback Phil Simms, they cycled through various coaches and quarterbacks. However, they added running back Tiki Barber and defensive end Michael Strahan.

With Jim Fassel as the head coach, the Giants ultimately returned to eminence in 2000 as they posted a regular season record of 12-4. After devouring the Minnesota Vikings 41-0 at home in the NFC Championship Game, the Giants were matched-up with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. The Ravens domineering defense overpowered the Giants as they were crushed by a score of 24-7.

In 2001, defensive end Michael Strahan broke the NFL record for most sacks in a single season. He recorded his 22nd and a half sack by sacking Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. The record was previously held by Mark Gastineau.

Tom Coughlin replaced Fassel prior to the 2004 NFL season. Additionally, the Giants and San Diego Chargers reached a deal in which the Giants would obtain the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With their first overall draft pick, the Giants selected quarterback Eli Manning out of the University of Mississippi.

In 2005, the Giants won the NFC East Division title with an 11-5 record, but a devastating 23-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers ended any hopes of another Super Bowl appearance. Earlier in the season, their long-time owner Wellington Mara passed away at the age of 89.

Following the 2006 season, running back Tiki Barber retired from the NFL and has become a television analyst. Barber became critical of his former coach Tom Coughlin and teammate Eli Manning.

On October 28, 2007, the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 in London, England. This was the first NFL regular season game played outside of North America.