The Top Ten Giants Quarterbacks of All Time

After doing some reading on Eli Manning, I started to wonder where Eli stands in NY Giant QB history. I started doing some research and came up with the top ten quarterbacks in Giants history.

Who do you think is number one? Simms? Tittle? Collins? or is it Eli?

You'll have to read to find out!

Feel free to state your opinion in the comments below for a lively discussion for all your Giant fans or Giant haters out there.

10. Dave Brown

Because I had to right? There was no clear choice for number 10. Dave Brown led the Giants to no playoff berths. He played in one of the poorest times in Giant's history. So this spot is dedicated to Dave Brown and Danny Kanell and all of the other nobodies that have captained the offense to abysmal seasons.

Now to the top 9...

9. Fran Tarkenton

Fran would have been higher but much of his HOF career came with the Vikes.

Tarkenton was traded to the Giants in 1967 and played 5 seasons with Big Blue. He led the Giants out of the basement from 1966 (1-12-1), but was unable to lead a mediocre New York team to any championship.

Tarkenton was a nine time Pro Bowler. He was one of the first mobile quarterback coining the nickname "Frantic Fran". After modest success with the Giants he was traded back to the Vikings where he lost three Super Bowls. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

8. Jeff Hostetler

A backup for most of his career, Hostetler showed up when it mattered for the G-men. After Phil Simms went down in Week 14 of the 1990 season, Hostetler took hold of the reins.

He led the Giants through the playoffs to Super Bowl XXV. He went 20 of 33 with 222 yards and a TD for a thrilling 20-19 lead.

After breaking his back in week 12 the next season, Simms took back over for good.

It was a short lived spot light for Hostetler, but a ring is on his finger and that's what matters the most.

7. Kerry Collins

Kerry Collins recovered from his personal demons to take control of the offense for Big Blue midway through the 1999 season. The next season he led the Giants on a surprising surge to the Super Bowl.

Despite his poor performance in NFL's grand stage, Collins helped bring the Giants back to legitimacy. He helped the Giants make the play-offs one more year in 2002. Collins is third all time in passing yards for the G-men despite only playing five seasons.

6. Ed Danowski

Danowski played on two title winning teams in 1934 and 1938. Ed played in the single wing formation for the Giants where the halfback was also the primary passer. The Fordham graduate led the league in passing in both 1935 and 1936 and 1938 when the Giants were considered on of the best teams to ever play.

In the 1938 championship Danowski led a fourth quarter drive capped off by a 23-yard TD pass to Hank Soar for the 23-17 win. Danowski played in four NFL championship games in one of the best times in Giants history.

5. Eli Manning

Eli maybe ranked a bit high because he hasn't played enough years yet. But he is just now starting to realize his potential.

Eli was a two time Conerly Trophy winner at Ole Miss.

The number one overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, the Giants traded the farm to get Eli. Ernie Accorsi pegged him as the Giant's QB of the future.

After a three inconsistent seasons, Eli led the Giants to one of the most amazing runs in history. A team that barely made the playoffs and was an after thought for everyone, found a way through their quarterback's mistake free football and stellar defense to Super Bowl XLII.

The undefeated Patriots waited for Eli and co. Giants fans need no reminders of the magic Eli provided on that February evening in Arizona. Out doing Mr. Clutch Tom Brady by leading his team down the field in the most memorable drive of Giant fans' lives, capped off by a TD pass to Plaxico Burress to win 17-14.

The Super Bowl MVP went on to his first Pro Bowl in 2008 in what was a poor finish without their number one receiver. Eli has the potential and ability to continue to improve and climb this list in the future.

4. Benny Friedman

Tim Mara purchased the entire team in entire Detroit Wolverines in part because he was so impressed with this University of Michigan product. Friedman is widely considered the best passer of his time throwing 20 touchdowns in 1929. No QB would surpass this mark until 1942.

Friedman played three seasons with the Giants but in his first turned the team from a putrid 4-7-2 to a stellar 13-1-1 with the one loss coming to the champion Packers. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

3. Y.A. Tittle

Despite only playing four seasons with the Giants, Tittle led the Giants to three straight Eastern Conference titles and subsequently three straight NFL Championship games. He lost the last 14-10 to the Bears and played with a hurt leg in the game where the Bears introduced zone defense to the NFL.

Tittle was a seven time Pro Bowler and 1961 NFL MVP. His number 14 is retired by the Giants. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2. Charlie Conerly

Considered one of the best quarterbacks in Ole Miss history, Conerly played his entire career with the NY Giants. He was a two time Pro Bowler and led the Giants to victory in the 1956 NFL Championship game over the Bears.

Overall, Conerly led the team to four championship games, including the famed "Greatest Game Ever Played" the 1958 NFL Championship game against the Colts. His number 42 is retired by Giants after starting for the Giants for 12 years.

The Conerly Trophy is named after Charlie and is given to outstanding college player in Mississippi.

1. Phil Simms

Simms epitomizes a successful New York quarterback. He played his entire 14 year career with the Giants. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1979 after being New York's first pick. Plagued by injuries for much of his first four season, Simms bounced back in 1984 with a Pro Bowl season.

In 1986 he led the Giants to 14 wins and an NFC title. In Super Bowl XXI he had one of the greatest championship performance ever completing 22 of 25 passes for 288 yards. He threw three touchdowns and won the Super Bowl MVP in the 39-20 routing of the Denver Broncos. He is credited with first saying "I'm going to Disney World".

In 1990 he was having one of the finest seasons of his career when he injured his foot in week 14 after leading the Giants to an 11-3 record. His team ending up winning the Super Bowl defeating the Bills 20-19.

Simms was a two time Pro Bowler and is number 20th all time for passing in the NFL. His number 11 was retired by the Giants.