The 5 Greatest New York Giants Wide Receivers
The New York Giants have given fans a number of memorable moments over the franchise’s more than century-long history. The winner of eight NFL championships, including four Super Bowls, the Giants have hired a number of great coaches who have led teams whose stellar offenses have been helmed by exceptional quarterbacks.
Of course, having a great coach or quarterback isn’t, on its own, enough. On the offensive side of the ball, someone needs to be there to help execute the coach’s game plan and pull in the quarterback’s throws. Fortunately for the Giants, the team’s been blessed with a number of elite wide receivers.
A total of 10 New York receivers have recorded 1,000-yard seasons, and while yardage is an important measure, it is not the only criteria for greatness. Players from earlier eras did not have the opportunity to benefit from changes to the game seen today, meaning their stats aren’t necessarily jaw-dropping by modern standards. In addition, longevity, team success, and others factor also play a role.
Accounting for all of this, who, then, are the Giants’ greatest wide receivers ever? Let’s look at the five who experts say top the list.
5. Del Shofner
Drafted in 1957, this Baylor University product started his career with the Los Angeles Rams, where he made three Pro Bowls and earned an All-Pro selection. Ahead of the 1961 season, New York traded for Shofner to pair with recently acquired quarterback Y. A. Tittle.
The moves paid off, as together Tittle and Shofner played integral roles in helping the Giants win the next three NFC championships. For his part, Shofner logged 1,000-yard seasons in each of first three years in New York, production that placed him in the top-five leaguewide over that time. In recognition of his success, he was named a first-team All-Pro from 1961 to 1963.
Shofner’s production dropped off starting in 1964 due to injuries, but he remained with the Giants until 1967. He retired with the fourth-most catches and third-most receiving yards in franchise history, and he remains in the top 20 in both categories today.
4. Homer Jones
A Del Shofner injury in the 1965 season gave Homer Jones his first chance to start for the Giants. The 24-year-old took full advantage of the opportunity, scoring on an 89-year passing play that not only helped New York win the game but marked what at the time was the longest touchdown reception ever by a Giants player.
Jones went on to make 26 catches that season for a total of 709 yards. He performed even better in 1966 by recording his first 1,000-yard season. A chunk of that yardage came on a 98-yard touchdown play that bested his record-breaking reception from the previous year.
Jones tallied two more 1,000-yard seasons in 1967 and 1968. He spent six years total in New York before being traded after the 1969 season. A two-time Pro Bowler, he still holds the NFL record for yards per reception.
3. Kyle Rote
A running back who was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in college, Kyle Rote switched to wide receiver in the pros after sustaining a knee injury in his rookie year. His appearance on this list tells you all you need to know about whether that transition was successful.
At his new position, Rote earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections and led the team in receiving yards for three straight years. His personal success translated to team success, as the Giants made four NFL championship games over his career, winning once, in 1956.
Over the years, Rote’s statistics only improved. Playing alongside Del Shofner, he recorded the highest yardage totals of his career in his final two seasons. A captain for all but one of his 11-year career, he was so revered by his teammates that many of them reportedly named their children after him.
2. Odell Beckham Jr.
It’s a close call on whether Rote or Beckham deserves recognition as the second-best receiver in Giants history, but the latter gets the nod here in part thanks to his exceptional athleticism and how bright he burned in his short time in New York.
After being drafted №12 out of LSU, Beckham turned in a spectacular first season with the Giants. He reached the end zone in his first game, and in November, he followed that up with a memorable one-handed touchdown grab that has been called one of the greatest catches in the history of the NFL. His impressive rookie season resulted in his making the Pro Bowl and earning the NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
Beckham recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career and, in the process, reached the 3,000-yard milestone faster than any wide receiver in NFL history. He added an additional 1,000-yard season and two more Pro Bowl selections before being traded to the Browns in 2010.
1. Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer started only one season in college and was primarily a returner over his first couple of years in the pros. Few could have predicted that a player like this would become the consensus pick as the best wide receiver in Giants history, but that’s exactly what Toomer did over the course of his 13-year career in New York.
The University of Michigan product began making a name for himself at wide receiver in his third professional season, when he broke what was then the franchise record for catches with 79. His performance in 1999 was the first of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, the only Giants player to achieve this feat.
Later in his career, as he became New York’s №2 wide receiver, the veteran continued to contribute. His team-high six catches and 78 receiving yards were integral in helping the Giants overcome the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Today, he still holds numerous franchise records and is the only player on this list to earn induction into the Giants Ring of Honor.
