In an era of bad Giant teams, he sometimes stood alone as a beacon of hope and competent play. In a pinch, he could also punt!
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Emlen Tunnell is still second all-time in interceptions
If you want to say who had the best single season by a safety, non-Emlen Tunnell division, probably Landon Collins in 2016. Finished third in the DPOY voting.
tells us how little Emlen Tunnell is remembered by modern-day Giants fans, even on the premier Giants fan site. A HoF player, a DB who was exactly the kind of ballhawk most fans are dying for us to get, and people are like "Best Giants safety? Antrel Rolle?"
Couple of other things to note about Tunnell; he is perhaps the only former Giant with a ship named after him. He served in the Coast Guard in WWII where he won a medal for bravery and later had a CG vessek named after him; there is also a building on the CG academy grounds named after him. After he retired as a player he became one of the very first blacks to be a coach in the NFL.
Patton a close second. Tunnell was a coverage genius. Patton was always looked at as the hardest hitting 180 lbs in the NFL. He had many Gary Reasons type hits.
RE: Kenny Phillips was good but could have been so much more
One of the true "centerfielders" for the Giants in the Super Bowl era as I recall. Very important part of the 2010-2011 Super Bowl team. True side line to side line safety.
As you point out, Giants career ended way too soon.
Retired as the NFL’s all time interception leader and was also the all time punt returner. He was the lone safety on the HOF’s 50th anniversary team.
He is one of four Giants who you can legitimately argue as being the best ever at his position, the others being Mel Hein (C), Roosevelt Brown (LT) and Lawrence Taylor (OLB).
In an era of bad Giant teams, he sometimes stood alone as a beacon of hope and competent play. In a pinch, he could also punt!
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Did not that!
My LT jersey has Spider's patch on it
In an era of bad Giant teams, he sometimes stood alone as a beacon of hope and competent play. In a pinch, he could also punt!
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Did not that!
My LT jersey has Spider's patch on it
Then Jimmy Patton and Spider Lockhart…
So far no mention of Terry Kinard… ask Belichick how good he was and he’ll speak glowingly.
Then Kenny Phillips and Rolle.
Then Jimmy Patton and Spider Lockhart…
So far no mention of Terry Kinard… ask Belichick how good he was and he’ll speak glowingly.
Then Kenny Phillips and Rolle.
the mid 1960's, so I didn't have the pleasure of seeing Emlen Tunnell or z
Jimmy Patton play, except in highlite videos. Tunnell was the best based on his legacy. I'll defer to anyone who saw Patton play and claims he is second best.
The best my eyes saw was Spider Lockhart. The guy weighed 175 lbs but when he hit you, you got every pound of him. He blew up Cowboys RB Calvin Hill, who weighed around 230 lbs on one running play that was as stunning as it was violent. Also he was a great ball hawk. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a police sponsored event and he was great with us kids.
I had high hopes for Gibril Wilson. He had an excellent rookie year, got injured, and was never the same player.
In the Super Bowl era it was Spider Lockhart. I think Kenny Phillips had the potential to be the greatest, but his arthritic condition was limiting and ultimately shortened his career.
The best season for any safety in Giants history was arguably that of Landon Collins in 2016. He was not only voted to the NFL All Pro team and was third in the NFL DPOY balloting, but he is the only player in NFL history to have over one hundred solo tackles, more than two sacks, at least five interceptions, and a minimum twelve pass deflections in any one season.
And I would argue that the three free safeties who anchored the defensive backfield for the four Super Bowl wins, Terry Kinard, Myron Guyton and Antrel Rolle, were extremely underrated in those defenses and critical to winning each of those Lombardi's.
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Quite a secondary
And playing when there were only 12 games per season and when the running game dominated.
If you want to say who had the best single season by a safety, non-Emlen Tunnell division, probably Landon Collins in 2016. Finished third in the DPOY voting.
Quote:
C.C. Brown without question.
OMG, Can't Cover Brown, the only safety we had that Quarterbacks couldn't look him off for fear they would send him in the right direction.
This cracked me up!
Thanks to the old timers for chiming in here.
I guess I am dating myself as a child of the 70s...
Lott did what he did for a long time
That I’ve seen - probably Spider Lockhart.
Best I’ve ever seen in the NFL - Ed Reed.
I agree.
As you point out, Giants career ended way too soon.
He is one of four Giants who you can legitimately argue as being the best ever at his position, the others being Mel Hein (C), Roosevelt Brown (LT) and Lawrence Taylor (OLB).
Awesome info
Quote:
In an era of bad Giant teams, he sometimes stood alone as a beacon of hope and competent play. In a pinch, he could also punt!
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Did not that!
My LT jersey has Spider's patch on it
Quote:
In comment 16595031 varco said:
Quote:
In an era of bad Giant teams, he sometimes stood alone as a beacon of hope and competent play. In a pinch, he could also punt!
Agree - after Emlen, it's Spider. Emlen actually gave Spider that nickname as he (Emlen) was the Giants' DB coach when Spider was a rookie. Spider was a Pro Bowl free safety on an otherwise bad Giants team.
Did not that!
My LT jersey has Spider's patch on it
Sorry meant did not know that
On July 9, 1986, at the age of 43, Spider died of lymphoma.
Yep
Then Jimmy Patton and Spider Lockhart…
So far no mention of Terry Kinard… ask Belichick how good he was and he’ll speak glowingly.
Then Kenny Phillips and Rolle.
Then Jimmy Patton and Spider Lockhart…
So far no mention of Terry Kinard… ask Belichick how good he was and he’ll speak glowingly.
Then Kenny Phillips and Rolle.
Killer Kinard
New York Giants All-Time Team - ( New Window )
Jimmy Patton play, except in highlite videos. Tunnell was the best based on his legacy. I'll defer to anyone who saw Patton play and claims he is second best.
The best my eyes saw was Spider Lockhart. The guy weighed 175 lbs but when he hit you, you got every pound of him. He blew up Cowboys RB Calvin Hill, who weighed around 230 lbs on one running play that was as stunning as it was violent. Also he was a great ball hawk. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a police sponsored event and he was great with us kids.
I had high hopes for Gibril Wilson. He had an excellent rookie year, got injured, and was never the same player.
I swear I’ve read this somewhere before.
He would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids
The best Giants safety I ever saw was Terry Kinard.
Yes. #1 Tunnell, #2 Patton, #3 several very good players all worthy.
The best season for any safety in Giants history was arguably that of Landon Collins in 2016. He was not only voted to the NFL All Pro team and was third in the NFL DPOY balloting, but he is the only player in NFL history to have over one hundred solo tackles, more than two sacks, at least five interceptions, and a minimum twelve pass deflections in any one season.
And I would argue that the three free safeties who anchored the defensive backfield for the four Super Bowl wins, Terry Kinard, Myron Guyton and Antrel Rolle, were extremely underrated in those defenses and critical to winning each of those Lombardi's.
And Greg Jackson while we're at it. I think Jackson was better but I can't think of a better tandem that's for damn sure.
uhhhhh...
Greg from LI : 9/4/2024 3:03 pm : link : reply
Emlen Tunnell.
In the last, say, 40 years? Probably Antrel Rolle or Terry Kinard.