The coronavirus has completely shut down the planet and the sports world has not been immune. Recognizing that, The Athletic decided to put together their first-ever New York Sports Hall of Fame to help break the monotony.
25 icons from The Big Apple made the list, including three members of the New York Giants.
Here’s a quick look at each in reverse order:
24. Michael Strahan (22.5 points)
Hard as it may be to believe now, Strahan was actually a better football player than television personality. The ubiquitous TV host set an NFL single-season record with 22.5 sacks in 2001 and ranks seventh all-time with 141.5 career sacks. Strahan won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2001, earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was a four-time first-team All-Pro. The 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee spent his entire 15-season career with the Giants, riding into the sunset with a win in Super Bowl XLII in his final game.
Strahan was one of those rare modern athletes who spent his entire career with one team and, as The Athletic notes, won a Super Bowl title — his only title — in his final game. What a way to go out.
20. Eli Manning (33 points)
Manning is a polarizing candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a rollercoaster 16-year career, but his triumphs cemented his status among New York’s all-time greats. Manning led the Giants to two improbable Super Bowl victories, earning MVP honors in each championship game. His “Helmet Catch” connection with David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII and the perfect dime to Mario Manningham in Super Bowl XLVI are the enduring memories for a quarterback who raised his play on the game’s biggest stage.
In addition to his Super Bowl heroics, Manning’s performances in the preceding conference championship games were even more legendary. Manning ranked seventh all-time in passing touchdowns, passing yards and completions when he retired in January. Ranking 20th on this list bodes well for the more significant Hall of Fame debate in Manning’s future.
Honestly, we’re surprised to see Manning make this list — not because he’s undeserving, but because it’s Eli Manning and he rarely received any credit whatsoever.
Next stop: Canton?
4. Lawrence Taylor (147.5 points)
Bill Belichick considers Taylor the greatest defensive player in the history of football. Not much more needs to be said, but here goes: Taylor’s pass-rushing ability completely revolutionized the way the game was played. Offenses had to change the way they blocked outside linebackers, and Taylor’s combination of speed and power caused other teams to try to find similar players to terrorize quarterbacks.
Taylor was named the NFL’s MVP in 1986, becoming the first defensive player to win the award in 15 years after a league-high 20.5 sack season. Taylor won three defensive player of the year awards (tied for most all-time), was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and was an eight-time first-team All-Pro in a 13-year career spent exclusively with the Giants. His 132.5 career sacks ranked second all-time when he retired. Taylor led the Giants to the franchise’s first two Super Bowl wins in 1986 and 1990.
Surprise! Bet you didn’t see this one coming.
Okay… you probably did, but who cares? Any chance we get to re-live the greatness that was L.T. is welcomed. But No. 4? Some may believe he deserves to be higher on the list, but it’s hard to compete with Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth.
For specific details on the criteria for this Hall of Fame, be sure to check out their explanation over at The Athletic.
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