In conjunction with the NFL’s 100th season celebration, 19 current and former reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network were asked to compile a list ranking the 100 greatest players in pro football history.
Four players who played for New York Giants made the list.
No. 92 – Fran Tarkenton, QB (1967-1971)
Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1986; 1975 NFL MVP; 1st-team All-Pro (1975); nine pro bowls (1964-65, 1967-70, 1974-76).
Fennelly: I’ve written volumes on Tarkenton over the years. He was the player Allie Sherman acquired from Minnesota to get the Giants jump-started in the late 60s after some down years. A noted scrambler who was entertaining to watch, the results weren’t as the Giants had hoped, although the Giants were fairly competitive during his tenure. He was traded back to the Vikings after the ’71 season and went on to have a Hall of Fame career. He was the first of three Giant greats to wear the No. 10, followed by Brad Van Pelt and Eli Manning.
No 78 – Michael Strahan, DE (1993-2007)
Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2014); Super Bowl champ; 7 Pro Bowls; 4-time first-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003); 2-time second-team All-Pro (2002, 2005); NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001); holds the NFL record for most sacks in a season (22.5); 6th most career sacks in NFL history (141.5)
Fennelly: One of the best draft picks George Young ever had, and he had quite a few. Strahan had the ability, the drive and the endurance that embodies a great player. He gave everything he had for this team for 15 seasons and was rewarded with a Super Bowl ring in his final game. Many will argue that Strahan is overrated and receives additional notoriety due to his celebrity status, but make no mistake – there’s no question he belongs on this list.
No. 45 – Jim Thorpe, RB (1925)
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1963); First-team All-pro (1923)
Fennelly: Not many above ground can attest to Thorpe’s greatness. His legacy has dwindled to the point where his legend overshadows the man now. He was a Native American who broke barriers in the Olympics and in college and pro football. Not many have a movie made about their lives, especially one in which they were portrayed by Burt Lancaster. Thorpe also played for three Major League Baseball teams, most notably the New York Giants. His New York Football Giants career was only one season long — 1925 — the Giants’ first season in the NFL. He helped them to an 8-4 record at age 38.
No. 3 – Lawrence Taylor, LB (1981-1993)
Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999); 2-time Super Bowl champ; 10-time Pro Bowl; 9-time first-team All-Pro (1981-1989); second-team All-Pro (1990); NFL MVP (1986); 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986); NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
Fennelly: Taylor is simply the greatest player in New York Giants history and this list has him appropriately rated the best defensive player in the 100-year history of the NFL. No player dominated like he did before he entered the league and no one has dominated like he did since he retired in 1993. I always tell young writers and fans when thinking about Taylor, just think what Gretzky was to hockey and what Jordan was to basketball. That is what LT was to the NFL — a unique talent that played at a higher level than any player ever has.
