The New York Giants continued a recent tradition under first-year head coach Joe Judge where scout team players get to wear the jerseys of Giants Ring of Honorees. Two weeks go we reported on the first time the Giants did it:
Quarterback Colt McCoy donned the No. 16 jersey belonging to Frank Gifford, while cornerback Jarren Williams wore Mel Hein’s No. 7 and rookie linebacker Carter Coughlin wore Lawrence Taylor’s forever infamous No. 56.Offensive lineman Chad Slade also wore Chris Snee’s No. 76 and defensive lineman David Moa wore George Martin’s No. 75.
On Wednesday, at practice in the snowy confines of the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, there were more old jerseys on display.
Scout Team Players of the Week tradition continues.
The following players wore numbers of Ring of Honor members today:
Jackson Barton – 32 Al Blozis
Madre Harper – 45 Emlen Tunnell
Quincy Wilson – 22 Dick Lynch
Clayton Thorson – 14 Y.A. Tittle
Chad Slade – 7 Mel Hein— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) December 9, 2020
Al Blozis was won offensive lineman for the Giants in 1942-43. At 6-foot and 250 pounds he was initially deemed to be too large for military service. But in 1943, Blozis found himself a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was killed in action in 1945 and his No. 32 was retired by the Giants. Legend has it that Blozis’ name was once on a plaque in centerfield of the Polo Grounds. The plaque was reportedly stolen.
Emlen Tunnell’s career with the Giants is well-documented. A nine-time Pro Bowler who was a member of the 1956 NFL Championship team and who played the last three seasons of his career with Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers. His No. 45 is not retired by the Giants.
Y.A. Tittle and Mel Hein’s careers are also well-documented. Tittle only played four seasons for the Giants but what a four seasons they were. His 36 touchdowns passes in 1963 stood as an NFL single season record until 1984 when Miami’s Dan Marino broke it with 48. His No. 14 is co-retired with Ward Cuff.
Hein played center and linebacker for the Giants for 15 seasons (1931-45). He was one of the 17 players indicted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963. His No. 7 is retired by the Giants.
Dick Lynch was born in Oceanside, New York and began his NFL career in 1958 with the Washington Redskins after attending Notre Dame, where is is a member of their Hall of Fame. He was traded to the Giants in 1959 for fourth round draft pick.
A defensive back, Lynch played eight seasons for the Giants, leading the NFL in interceptions in 1961 and 1963. After misplaying career, Lynch worked as an analyst on Giants radio broadcasts from 1967 until his death in 2008. His No. 22 is not retired.
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