Ranking the 17 greatest Giants players ever, from Eli Manning to Lawrence Taylor

The New York Giants have been around for a century in the NFL. Throughout the franchise's history, the Giants could stake claim to four league championships and four Super Bowl victories.

Their rich tradition of successful existence has meant a lot of big-time performers have stepped on the field for Big Blue. The Sporting News ranks the 17 best players in Giants history, from all-time leading rusher Tiki Barber to their dominant pass rusher, Lawrence Taylor

Players were ranked based on a points system made up of nine categories. Points from a scale of 1-10 were assigned based on each player's strength in a particular category and added up for a final score.

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17. Y.A. Tittle (1961-1964)

Accolades: 4 seasons, 3 Pro Bowls, 3-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL MVP, two-time NFL passing TDs leader, 1-time NFL completion percentage leader, 1-time NFL passer rating leader

Why he made SN's list: Y.A. Tittle came to the Giants at age 34 after starting with the Colts (5 seasons) and starring for the 49ers (10 seasons). He still had plenty left as a dangerous downfield passer, turning in the most prolific and efficient numbers of his career with mega 1962 and 1963 seasons. The Giants relied a lot on his big veteran arm to build on what he did in San Francisco. Tittle responded by showing all of his savvy.

Place in Giants history: Tittle didn't end up winning an NFL championship, but he took the team to three consecutive title games to stamp the end of his lengthy Hall of Fame career. He made a huge impact in a short time.

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16. Carl Banks (1984-1992)

Accolades: 9 seasons, 1 Pro Bowl, 1-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion

Why he made SN's list: Carl Banks was part of a dominant linebacker corps inside and out for the defenses under Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells that translated into two rings. He was known for his superb prolific tackling with strong production as a pass rusher when needed 

Place in Giants history: Banks wasn't the most decorated Giant on some loaded teams, but he was beloved for his steady production and leadership and coming up with his biggest games in the Super Bowl and other clutch moments.

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15. Charlie Conerly (1948-1961)

Accolades: 14 seasons, 2 Pro Bowls, 1-time NFL passer rating leader, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Before Eli Manning won two Super Bowls, Charlie Conerly was the Giants' most notable quarterback out of Ole Miss. He started with a bang as a superstar rookie and then developed efficiency later in his career to go with a big arm. Conerly led the Giants to a title in the 1956 season and was the QB opposite Johnny Unitas in the 1958 NFL championship overtime defeat to the Colts, dubbed as"The Greatest Game Ever Played".

Place in Giants history: Conerly is third all-time in most overall passing categories behind Eli Manning and Phil Simms, but he set the highest QB standard for the franchise both as a rookie and later playoff performer.

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14. Amani Toomer (1996-2008)

Accolades: 13 seasons, 1-time Super Bowl champion

Why he made SN's list: Amani Toomer is one of the best-ever NFL receivers who never was named to a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team. He was a clutch big-play target at times but was known for his route-running reliability and hands as Eli Manning's go-to guy.

Place in Giants history: Toomer leads the Giants in receptions (668), receiving yards (9,497) and receiving touchdowns (54). He was underrated during his career but has gotten his just due when looking back on his numbers and impact.

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13. Tiki Barber (1997-2006)

Accolades: 10 seasons, 3 Pro Bowls, 1-time first-team All-Pro

Why he made SN's list: While his identical twin brother Ronde became a Hall of Fame defensive back for the Buccaneers, Tiki Barber was a versatile running back for the Giants, providing the "Lightning" in the backfield to complement power backs such as Ron Dayne.

Place in Giants history: Barber is the easy Giants' all-time leading rusher with his 10,449 yards and he is second only to bruising Brandon Jacobs with his 55 rushing TDs. He just missed their return to Super Bowl glory, but was key in getting them one NFC championship.

MORE: Is Tiki Barber in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

12. Andy Robustelli (1956-1964)

Accolades: 9 seasons, 5 Pro Bowls, 4-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, 1-time Bert Bell Award winner

Why he made SN's list: Andy Robustelli had an apt surname for being a stout defensive end, but he did so with a undersized 6-foot, 230-pound frame. He was an often dominant athletic force, using his smarts and quickness to his full advantage to make big plays that added up to two championships.

Place in Giants history: Robustelli came over from the Rams and found his groove as a pass rusher in his late 30s, unofficially credited with 48.5 sacks in his last four seasons. The Hall of Famer set the early tone for a richer pass-rush tradition to come.

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11. Sam Huff (1956-1963)

Accolades: 8 seasons, 4 Pro Bowls, 2-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Before he finished his career playing well for rival Washington, Sam Huff was New York's do-everything third-round linebacker out of West Virginia. He was known for flat-out rangy playmaking and hard hitting and tackling. The Hall of Famer helped the Giants win a title in 1956 and also compete vs. the Colts in the 1958 championship thriller vs. the Colts, which became known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

Place in Giants history: Huff was one of the NFL's defensive superstars as the league was gaining more popularity, a crossover celebrity of his day. He won for the Giants and also was the national face of the franchise.

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10. Phil Simms (1979-1993)

Accolades: 15 seasons, 2 Pro Bowls, 1-time NFL Man of the Year, 2-time Super Bowl champion, 1-time Super Bowl MVP

Why he made SN's list: Phil Simms was taken No. 7 overall out of Morehead State in 1979 and the native Kentuckian fit as the gritty starting quarterback for the Bill Parcells era as the team transformed into a Super Bowl contender. He was known for his heart and toughness more than his stats. He was the right durable captain to helm a team built well with the running game and defense.

Place in Giants history: Simms had an incredible Super Bowl 21 against John Elway and the Broncos, completing 88 percent of his passes with a 150.9 passer rating, both overall records in the era. He was well behind Elway, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and other contemporaries in ultimate QB honors, but made the key passes to win a lot of games.

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9. Jimmy Patton (1955-1966)

Accolades: 12 seasons, 5 Pro Bowls, 5-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL interceptions leader, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Jimmy Patton, like Charlie Conerly and Eli Manning, is another Giants legend from Ole Miss. He was a intuitive safety, taking coverage and making plays on the ball into an art form. He ended up second all-time among Giants in interceptions (54), only behind Emlen Tunnell.

Place in Giants history: Patton isn't in the Hall of Fame like several Giants from the 1950s championship success but still has a strong case. He was a favorite for the excitement he added to the defense. Sadly, six years after his last season, he died in a car accident at only 39.

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8. Harry Carson (1976-1988)

Accolades: 13 seasons, 9 Pro Bowls, 1-time Super Bowl champion

Why he made SN's list: Harry Carson was another great disruptive fit for the defense of Bill Belichick under Bill Parcells. He could make plays everywhere as needed, the ultimate chess piece as a big asset vs. the pass, both in coverage and when blitzing.

Place in Giants history: Whether in the initial "Crunch Bunch" also featuring fellow Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor or in the transition to the "Big Blue Wrecking" Crew, Carson was an all-around force, sparking the winning Super Bowl 21 run and becoming an indispensable Parcells-era favorite.

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7. Eli Manning (2004-2019)

Accolades: 16 seasons, 4 Pro Bowls, 1-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 2-time Super Bowl champion, 2-time Super Bowl MVP

Why he made SN's list: Eli Manning, much like second-best franchise QB Phil Simms, was known for his unflappability and consistency, the same style of smart big-armed passer in all situations. He didn't have the regular-season numbers or credentials as big brother Peyton, but Eli was a durable leader who started 222 consecutive games and also was the classiest representative of the organization off the field.

Place in Giants history: Manning is eligible for the Hall of Fame and has a fair case given his key part in helping the Giants win two rings under Tom Coughlin, playing well off the deense and running game to make clutch plays to beat Tom Brady's Patriots in two Super Bowls. His longevity add to leading the franchise in both passing yards (57,023) and passing TDs (366).

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6. Emlen Tunnell (1948-1958)

Accolades: 11 seasons, 8 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, 2-time NFL punt return yardage leader, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Emlen Tunnell was the preeminent safety and return man of his era throughout the 1950s. Known as the "Gremlin", the Hall of Famer would blow up defensive game plans with his big coverage and takeaways. He excelled in the umbrella scheme because of his range, speed and quick closing ability.

Place in Giants history: Tunnell is the all-time Giants leader with his 74 interceptions for 1,240 yards. He was a superstar in the Vince Lombardi era and stayed with the coach for more success with the Packers, but he'll remembered most for his prime playmaking in New York.

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5. Michael Strahan (1993-2007)

Accolades: 15 seasons, 7 Pro Bowls, 4-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time NFL sacks leader, 1-time NFL forced fumbles co-leader, 1-time Super Bowl champion

Why he made SN's list: Michael Strahan was one of the best pass-rushing defensive ends of his era, severing as the best foundational front-four player in the Tom Coughlin-Steve Spagnuolo era. The second-round steal from Texas Southern also had a big personality to match his game, foreshadowing his future career as a broadcaster and crossover celebrity.

Place in Giants history: Strahan is a close second to Lawrence Taylor with his 141.5 sacks as a Giant. He also is No. 1 with his 131 tackles for loss and second with his 24 forced fumbles. He also set a new standard with his record-breakng 22.5-sack season. Strahan also stands out as one of the most popular past Giants.

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4. Rosey Brown (1953-1965)

Accolades: 13 seasons, 9 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Rosey Brown was a dominant offensive tackle through two decades and made his mark as an integral part of the Giants' rise near the end of the pre-Super Bowl era. He was a steady stalwart and came through in toughest blocking assignments vs. the league's best pass rushers.

Place in Giants history: Brown came through to facilitate some big passing seasons and also power the running game through some complete seasons. His elite player for a long time makes him New York's best-ever tackle.

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3. Frank Gifford (1952-1960, 1962-1964)

Accolades: 12 seasons, 8 Pro Bowls, 6-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL MVP, 1-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Frank Gifford was a superstar Hall of Fame halfback, safety and receiver at a time when the NFL needed more such attention. He also battled through a vicious hit from Eagles rival Chuck Bednarik to return to finish his career in New York. Gifford lit up on the NFL with his big plays on the field before having a successful long high-profile broadcasting career as a color commentator and presenter.

Place in Giants history: Gifford, despite playing when the NFL's passing boom was just starting, still is third behind Amani Toomer and Odell Beckham Jr. with his 5,434 receiving yards and fifth with his 43 TDs as a Giant.

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2. Mel Hein (1931-1945)

Accolades: 15 seasons, 4-time NFL All-Star, 8-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL MVP, 1-time NFL champion

Why he made SN's list: Nicknamed "Old Indestructible", Mel Hein was the classic two-way ironman in the earlier days of the NFL in helping the Giants win two of their early league titles in the 1930s. He was so dominant as a Hall of Fame blocking center he was able to ascend to MVP in a run-heavy era.

Place in Giants history: Hein was the man in the middle of controlling the action, a central figure in leading the Giants with his strength and athleticism for the position. He goes down as the first real pro football star in New York. 

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1. Lawrence Taylor (1981-1993)

Accolades: 13 seasons, 10 Pro Bowls, 8-time first-team All-Pro, 1-time NFL MVP, 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, 1-time NFL sacks leader, 1-time Super Bowl champion

Why he made SN's list: Lawrence Taylor, the No. 2 overall draft pick out of North Carolina in 1981, is the most intimidating defensive players in league history. Flying off the edge in his familiar No. 56 for Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, Taylor was the leader of both the "Crunch Bunch" and "Big Blue Wrecking Crew", wreaking havoc with fellow linebackers such as Harry Carson, Carl Banks, Gary Reasons, Brad Van Pelt and Pepper Johnson.

Place in Giants history: Taylor edges Michael Strahan for career sacks as a Giant when factoring in unofficial stats with 142. Taylor was a lot more disruptive than just racking up sacks; the Hall of Famer was a terror vs. the run and his explosiveness made him a game-changing weapon. The Giants have never seen a defensive player take over and carry a team at the level of "LT", and through the modern era, neither has the NFL.

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