New York Giants · Franchise era 6 of 7
Eli's two impossible runs: the New York Giants story
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.
- 04TradeApril 24, 2004
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.
To NYG
To LAC20043RDround asset20051STround asset+1 assetsEli–Rivers draft swapNYG receives Rights: Eli Manning · No. 1LAC receives Rights: Philip Rivers · No. 4, 2004 third · No. 65, 2005 first · No. 12 + 1 more5 original assets · 4 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 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