Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
New York Giants
- This is for the current NFL American football team, the New York Giants. For the original football team to take the name, see Brickley's Giants. For the professional baseball team of that name that played in New York from 1883 through 1957, see San Francisco Giants.
The New York Giants are a National Football League team originating in New York City, but currently based in New Jersey. They currently play in the NFC East Division.
- Founded: The current Giants team started in 1925.
- Formerly known as: The New York Football Giants (still the legal name of the corporate entity which owns the team)
- Home field: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (1976-)
- Previous home fields:
- Polo Grounds (1925-1955)
- Yankee Stadium (1956-1973)
- Yale Bowl (1973-1974)
- Shea Stadium (1975)
- Uniform colors: Dark blue with red trim
- Helmet design: Dark blue, with a white lower-case sans-serif "ny" logo
- League championships won: 1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990
- Super Bowls: XXI (won), XXV (won), XXXV (lost)
Franchise history
The Giants were created in 1925 by original owner Tim Mara .
The Giants are one of the original teams of the NFL.
In 1934, the team defeated the Chicago Bears 30-13 at the Polo Grounds in icy nine degree temperatures. At half time, coach Steve Owen provided the team with basketball shoes for better traction on the icy turf, and the game came to be known as the "Sneakers Game".
In 1958, the Giants played the Baltimore Colts for the NFL championship, in what came to be known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played".
In 1976, the Giants moved to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey from Yankee Stadium. The stadium is shared with the New York Jets.
In 1987, the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI. Phil Simms was named MVP after completing 88% of his passes. This Giants team began the recent football tradition of dousing the head coach with a cooler of ice cold water near the end of a victorious game that clinches some sort of championship.
In 1990, the Mara family sold a 50% interest in the team to Preston Robert Tisch.
In 1991, the Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV 20-19 in one of the most dramatic Super Bowls ever played, which culminated in Scott Norwood's missed FG. Ottis Anderson was named MVP
In 2001, the Giants were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV by the score of 34-7. Ray Lewis was named MVP.
In 2004, the Giants fired head coach Jim Fassel after a 4-12 season and signed Tom Coughlin to the position.
Players of note
- Roosevelt 'Rosey' Brown Tackle (enshrined in 1975)
- Frank Gifford Halfback (1977)
- Alphonse 'Tuffy' Leemans halfback, Fullback (1978)
- Morris 'Red' Badgro End, (1981)
- Sam Huff Linebacker (1982)
- Arnold Weinmeister Defensive End (1984)
- Tom Landry Coach (1990)
- Wellington Mara Co-Owner (1997)
- Steve O'Neill
- Ken Strong
- Lawrence Taylor Linebacker (1999)
- Y.A. Tittle
- Emlen Tunnell
Current stars:
Retired numbers:
- Ray Flaherty #1
- Tuffy Leemans #4
- Mel Hein #7
- Phil Simms #11
- Y.A. Tittle #14
- Al Blozis #32
- Joe Morrison #40
- Charlie Conerly #42
- Ken Strong #50
- Lawrence Taylor #56
External links
- New York Giants official web site
- New York Giants football blog
- Giants-Xtreme European Fanpage
- NFL article about "The Greatest Game Ever Played"
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