Tag: Homer Jones

14 former Giants among senior nominees for Hall of Fame Class of 2025

14 former New York Giants, including Phil Simms and Carl Banks, are senior nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.

In an effort to correct the sins of the past, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revamped their process when it comes to reconsidering players whose eligibility has expired.

Starting this year, an 11-person panel will review a list of 183 players for consideration for enshrinement. Only three will be nominated for induction in this year’s class.

To be considered in this group, each former player last could have appeared in a professional football game in the 1999 season.

For the New York Giants, there are 14 names up for consideration, including quarterbacks Phil Simms, Charlie Conerly and Jeff Hostetler, running back Ottis Anderson, linebacker Carl Banks and tight end Mark Bavaro who will get another look from voters.

Other Giants on the list include running back Herschel Walker, flanker Homer Jones, end Del Shofner, defensive linemen Rosey Grier and Leonard Marshall, defensive backs Jimmy Patton and Everson Walls, and punter Sean Landeta.

With the Giants celebrating their 100th season this year, it would be fitting if they could land a player on the finalists list later this fall.

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Former Giants WR Homer Jones dead at 82

Former New York Giants wide receiver Homer Jones, who is credited with creating the end zone spike, has died at the age of 82.

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Homer Jones, one of the most exciting and explosive offensive players in the history of the New York Football Giants, has died at the age of 82.

Jones, a flanker out of Texas Southern, was drafted by the Houston Oilers of the AFL in 1963 but a knee injury prevented him from hitting the field and he was cut in training camp. He was signed by the Giants in 1964 and became a star, leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 1967, made two Pro Bowls and to this day holds the NFL career record for yards per catch (22.3).

And…he was the first player to spike the football in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.

Jones played in 73 games over six seasons for the Giants from 1964-69, amassing 4,845 yards on 214 receptions and scoring 36 touchdowns.

Jones provided many a moment that forced Giant fans to their feet. He could take it to the house at any time and his speed and elusiveness were legendary. He once defeated world-class speedster and Dallas Cowboys superstar Bob Hayes in a foot race.

But he was largely inconsistent and the rebuilding Giants lost patience with him. Jones was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1970 in a deal that yielded three players, most notably star running back Ron Johnson.

Jones played one year in Cleveland before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he retired before the season due to injuries at age 29.

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Homer Jones, Giants WR first credited with spiking football, dies at 82

Former Giants star WR Homer Jones has died after a battle with lung cancer

The action taken to avoid a $50 fine by former New York Giant WR Homer Jones created an iconic trend that exists day.

Jones, who spiked a football to avoid the financial penalty that had been instituted by then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle for throwing the ball into the stands after a score, died at the age of 82. He suffered from lung cancer.

Jones scored against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1965 and threw the football into the ground.

“I was fixing to throw it into the grandstand,” Jones told ESPN in 2015. “But just as I was raising my arm, the reality snapped into my head. Mr. Rozelle would have fined me. That was a lot of money in those days. So I just threw the ball down into the end zone, into the grass. Folks got excited, and I did it for the rest of my career.”

Jones was a star for the Giants, playing with them from 1964-69. He made a pair of Pro Bowls.

He had 214 of his 224 NFL catches for New York. Jones also had all but one of his 36 TD receptions as a Giant.

“Homer Jones had a unique combination of speed and power and was a threat to score whenever he touched the ball,” John Mara, the Giants president, and chief executive officer, said.

“He was one of the first players (if not the first) to spike the ball in the end zone after scoring a touchdown and he quickly became a fan favorite. I remember him as an easygoing, friendly individual who was well-liked by his teammates and coaches.”

His one kickoff return for a touchdown came in a game that lives in NFL history. Jones returned a kick 94 yards for a score in the Cleveland Browns’ 31-21 victory over the New York Jets in 1970.

That contest was the first Monday Night Football game.

His quarterback with the Giants, Fran Tarkenton, fondly remembered Jones.