New York Giants · Franchise era 6 of 7
Eli's two impossible runs: the New York Giants story
Franchise era
2004—2012
Eli's two impossible runs
New York Giants
The story in one sentence
Manning's late-game calm and a deep pass rush produced two unlikely championships, including the upset of an 18–0 Patriots team.
Road playoff resilience topples New England twice
Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for searching after the champions.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2004
What came before
New York rebuilt around Strahan and Barber, reaching Super Bowl XXXV before the next quarterback succession began.
April 24, 2004
The draft-day swap that defined two franchises
The Giants paid a premium to resolve the standoff. The Chargers converted one selection into a quarterback, a kicker and a future All-Pro pass rusher.
04Draft-night standoffApril 24, 2004NYG⇄SDEli–Rivers draft swapSan Diego selected Eli Manning first despite his refusal to play there, then sent him to New York for Philip Rivers and three more picks.5 assets · 4 outcomes＋
The original receipt
New York Giants received
- • Draft rights to Eli Manning · No. 1
San Diego Chargers received
- • Draft rights to Philip Rivers · No. 4
- • 2004 third · No. 65
- • 2005 first · No. 12
- • 2005 fifth · No. 144
Manning won two Super Bowl MVPs in New York; Rivers became the statistical face of the Chargers for 16 seasons.
Open full trade tree →2008-02-03
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs New England Patriots
2012-01-22
Conference Championship: New York Giants vs San Francisco 49ers
2012-02-05
Super Bowl: New York Giants vs New England Patriots
After 2012
What came next
The title core aged, Beckham supplied a spectacular interlude and changing front offices struggled to construct a durable successor.
The core