The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays its home games at MetLife Stadium (which it shares with the New York Jets) at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, west of New York City. The Giants are headquartered and practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, also in the Meadowlands.
The Giants were one of five teams that joined the NFL in 1925, and they are the only one of that group still existing, as well as the league's longest-established team in the Northeastern United States. The team ranks third among all NFL franchises with eight NFL championship titles: four in the pre-Super Bowl era (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956) and four since the advent of the Super Bowl (XXI , XXV , XLII , and XLVI ), along with more championship appearances than any other team, with 19 overall appearances. Their championship tally is surpassed only by the Green Bay Packers (13) and the Chicago Bears (9). Throughout their history, the Giants have featured 29 Hall of Fame players, including NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winners Mel Hein, Frank Gifford, Y. A. Tittle, and Lawrence Taylor.
To distinguish themselves from the professional baseball team of the same name, the football team was incorporated as the "New York National League Football Company, Inc." in 1929 and then changed to "New York Football Giants, Inc." in 1937. While the baseball team moved to San Francisco after the 1957 season, the football team continues to legally use it as its corporate name, which the team is often referred to by fans and sportscasters alike. The team has also acquired several nicknames, including "Big Blue", the "G-Men", and the "Jints", an intentionally mangled contraction seen frequently in the New York Post and New York Daily News, originating from the baseball team when they were based in New York. In addition, the team as a whole is occasionally referred to as the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew", even though this moniker primarily and originally refers to the Giants defensive unit during the 1980s and early-1990s.
Since 2011, the team has struggled to find success in recent years, only having three winning seasons in 2012, 2016, and 2022, as well as two playoff appearances and no division titles. As of 2025, the Giants currently hold the longest active division title drought in the NFC, with a total of 14 seasons.
The team's heated rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles is the oldest of the NFC East rivalries, dating back to 1933, and has been called the best rivalry in the NFL in the 21st century.
History
Mara family era (1925–1990) On August 1, 1925, Timothy Mara and Will Gibson were granted a franchise by the NFL for their newly organized team in New York City — the New York Football Giants.Joseph T. Labrum (ed.), The National Football League Rules and Record Manual: 1958, 39th Season. Bala-Cynwyd, PA: National Football League, 1958; p. 66. The cost of the franchise was $2,500.
The Giants played their first game as an exhibition against All New Britain (which was not an NFL team) in New Britain, Connecticut, on October 4.New York First Game & First Home Game Program , hapmoran.org. Retrieved February 14, 2011.New York Pro Eleven Takes Opening Game , The New York Times, October 5, 1925. Retrieved March 16, 2007. They defeated New Britain 26–0 in front of a crowd of 10,000.
The New York Giants' first NFL game was a week later, on October 11, 1925, at the Cycledrome in Providence, Rhode Island, in a 0 to 14 loss to the Providence Steam Roller."Steam Rollers Win From Giants, 14-0; Open Pro Football Season at Providence", The Boston Globe, October 12, 1925, p.8 The Giants were successful in their first season, finishing in fourth place in a 20-team league with an 8–4–0 record., databasefootball.com. Retrieved January 23, 2007.Another report shows an earlier exhibition, a 3 to 0 win over the Newark Red Jackets on September 27, 1925 in Newark, New Jersey "Benkert Stars in Newark Game", The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey), September 28, 1925, p.12
Earl Potteiger years (1927–1928)
NFL champions (1927) In its third season, the team finished with the best record in the league at 11–1–1 and was awarded the NFL title., giants.com. Retrieved January 12, 2007. After a disappointing fourth season (1928) owner Tim Mara bought the entire squad of the Detroit Wolverines, principally to acquire star quarterback Benny Friedman, and merged the two teams under the Giants name.
In 1930, there were still many who questioned the quality of the professional game, claiming the college "amateurs" played with more intensity than professionals. In December 1930, the Giants played a team of Notre Dame All Stars at the Polo Grounds to raise money for the unemployed of New York City. It was also an opportunity to establish the skill and prestige of the pro game. Knute Rockne reassembled his Four Horsemen along with the stars of his 1924 Championship squad and told them to score early, then defend. Rockne, like much of the public, thought little of pro football and expected an easy win.Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 83 But from the beginning it was a one-way contest, with Friedman running for two Giant touchdowns and Hap Moran passing for another. Notre Dame failed to score. When it was all over, Coach Rockne told his team, "That was the greatest football machine I ever saw. I am glad none of you got hurt."New York Giants vs. Notre Dame All Stars December 14, 1930 , hapmoran.org. Retrieved March 12, 2007. The game raised $100,000 for the homeless, and is often credited with establishing the legitimacy of the professional game for those who were critical. It also was the last game the legendary Rockne ever coached; he was killed in an airplane crash on March 31, 1931.
Steve Owen years (1931–1953) In a 16-year span from 1931 to 1947, the Giants qualified to play in the NFL championship game 8 times, winning twice. During this period the Giants were led by Hall of Fame coach Steve Owen, and Hall of Fame players Mel Hein, Red Badgro, and Tuffy Leemans. In 1933 the Giants faced the Chicago Bears in the championship game and were defeated 23–21.
NFL champions (1934) The famous "Sneakers Game" was played in this era where the Giants defeated the Chicago Bears on an icy field in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, while wearing sneakers for better traction. The team would return to the championship game the following year but would fall to the Detroit Lions 26–7.
NFL champions (1938) The Giants captured their third NFL championship in 1938 with a 23–17 win over the Green Bay Packers. Both teams returned to the championship game the following year in 1939, with the Packers shutting out the Giants 27–0.
The period also featured the 1944 Giants, which are ranked as the #1 defensive team in NFL history, "...a truly awesome unit". They gave up only 7.5 points per game (a record that still stands) and shut out five of their 10 opponents, though they lost 14–7 to the Green Bay Packers in the 1944 NFL Championship Game. The Giants played the Detroit Lions to a scoreless tie on November 7, 1943.McDonough, W. et al. "75 Seasons: The Complete Story of the National Football League 1920–1995," Turner Publishing, Inc. and National Football League Properties, Atlanta, p. 86 (1994)The Detroit Free Press, November 8, 1943, p. 14The New York Times, November 8, 1943, p. 22 To this day, no NFL game played since then has ended in a scoreless tie. The Giants were particularly successful from the latter half of the 1930s until the United States entry into World War II.
Jim Lee Howell years (1954–1960)
NFL champions (1956) The Giants won their next championship in 1956, the first year the team began playing at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Aided by a number of future Pro Football Hall of Fame players such as running back Frank Gifford, linebacker Sam Huff, and offensive tackle Roosevelt Brown, as well as all-pro running back Alex Webster. The Giants' 1956 championship team not only included players who would eventually find their way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but a Hall of Fame coaching staff, as well. Head coach Jim Lee Howell's staff had Vince Lombardi coaching the offense and Tom Landry coaching the defense.History of the New York Giants , sportsecyclopedia. Retrieved September 12, 2006. From 1958 to 1963, the Giants played in the NFL Championship Game five times, but failed to win. Most significantly, the Giants played the Colts in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, which is considered a watershed event in the history of the NFL.Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 272 The game, which the Giants lost in overtime 23–17, is often called "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and is considered one of the most important events in furthering the NFL's popularity. The following year, they lost the championship to the Colts again, giving up a 9–7 fourth-quarter lead en route to a 31–16 loss.
Allie Sherman years (1961–1968) Both the 1961 and 1962 championship game matched the Giants up against the Green Bay Packers, with the Giants losing both 37–0 and 16–7 respectively. In 1963, led by league MVP quarterback Y. A. Tittle, who threw a then-NFL record 36 touchdown passes, the Giants advanced to the NFL Championship Game, where they lost to the Bears 14–10 for their third consecutive championship loss, as well as their fifth loss in the title game in 6 years.
With players such as Tittle and Gifford approaching their mid 30s, the team declined rapidly, finishing 2–10–2 in 1964. It was the start of a 15-year stretch with only two winning seasons and no playoff appearances. They rebounded with a 7–7 record in 1965, before crumbling to a league-worst 1–12–1 record,, databasefootball.com. Retrieved March 17, 2007. and allowing more than 500 points on defense in 1966. During the 1969 preseason, the Giants lost their first meeting with the New York Jets, 37–14, in front of 70,874 fans at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut.Wallace, William M. Jets Beat Giants, 37–14; Namath Completes 14 of 16 Passes, 3 for Scores; Battle Returns Punt For 86 Yards 70,874 Fans See Jet Rookie Score in Yale Bowl – Mathis Tallies Two Touchdowns , The New York Times, August 18, 1969. Retrieved March 18, 2007. Following the game, Wellington Mara fired coach Allie Sherman,Weinraub, Bernard. Fans Show Mixed Emotions; Bad Trades Laid To Team's Pilot , The New York Times, September 13, 1969. Retrieved March 18, 2007. and replaced him with former Giants fullback Alex Webster.Whittingham. pg. 151
In 1967, the team acquired quarterback Fran Tarkenton from the Minnesota Vikings. Despite having several respectable seasons with Tarkenton at quarterback, including a 7–7 finish in 1967 and 9–5 in 1970, the Giants traded him back to the Vikings after a 4–10 finish in 1971.Fran Tarkenton , vikingupdate.com. Retrieved March 18, 2007. Tarkenton would go on to lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls and earn a place in the Hall of Fame, while the Giants suffered through one of the worst stretches in their history, winning only 23 games from 1973 to 1979. Before the 1976 season, the Giants tried to revive a weak offense by replacing retired RB Ron Johnson with future Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka, but Csonka was often injured and ineffective during his 3 years in New York. The 1977 season featured a roster which included three rookie quarterbacks.Katz, Michael. Giants Go With Youth and Cut Ramsey; McVay Draws a Line , The New York Times, September 13, 1977. Retrieved March 21, 2007.