Giants All-Quarter Century Team: Our list of best players at each position from 2000-2025

EAST RUTHERFORD - The New York Giants have been in three Super Bowls since the turn of the century, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy as world champions twice in that span.

They have had success over the past 25 years because of several legendary players since 2000: from Pro Football Hall of Fame talent to those acknowledged in the franchise's Ring of Honor responsible for moments etched into the imagination of a fan base starved for more success in recent years.

Here, then, are the best players at every position in our compilation of the Giants' All-Quarter Century team:

Quarterback: Eli Manning

This was a TKO. A two-time Super Bowl MVP and champion and four-time Pro Bowler reset the standard for the position, following in the footsteps of icons Y.A. Tittle, Charley Conerly and Phil Simms. Finished his career in the Top 10 all-time in passing yards and touchdowns. Set an NFL record most fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a single season (15, 2011). Most passing yards in a single postseason (1,219 yards, 2011). Third all-time for most consecutive starts by a quarterback.

Next best: Kerry Collins

Running back: Tiki Barber

Three-time Pro Bowler. First-team All-Pro (2005). Giants Ring of Honor. Owns the franchise records for most rushing yards and most rushing attempts in a career and a season. Has two of the Top 5 single-season rushing totals in team history.

Next best: Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Saquon Barkley

Wide receivers: Amani Toomer, Odell Beckham Jr., Hakeem Nicks

Toomer: Super Bowl champion. Holds franchise records for catches (668), receiving yards (9,497) and receiving touchdowns (54). Giants Ring of Honor.

Beckham Jr.: 3-time Pro Bowler. Offensive Rookie of the Year. Three of the Top 5 highest receiving seasons in Giants history.

Nicks: Super Bowl champion. Finished with 5,081 receiving yards. His postseason in 2011 was incredible.

Next best: Victor Cruz, Plaxico Burress

Tight end: Jeremy Shockey

Two-time Super Bowl champion. First-team All-Pro (2002). Four-time Pro Bowler.

Next best: Kevin Boss

Left tackle: David Diehl

Two-time Super Bowl champion. Pro Bowl (2009), 11 seasons

Next best: Luke Petitgout, Andrew Thomas

Left guard: Rich Seubert

One of the toughest players to ever suit up for the franchise. Undrafted free agent became a glue guy on the offensive line and was indispensable, playing his entire career with the Giants. Super Bowl XLII champ.

Next best: Kevin Boothe

Center: Shaun O’Hara

Super Bowl champion. 3-time Pro Bowler. Anchor and leader of the best offensive line the Giants have had this century

Next best: David Baas

Right guard: Chris Snee

Two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowler. First-team All-Pro (2008). Giants Ring of Honor.

Next best: Ron Stone

Right tackle: Kareem McKenzie

The New Jersey native was an anchor at right tackle for seven seasons and helped balance the offensive line in the Giants' two Super Bowl runs in 2007 and 2011.

Next best: Justin Pugh

Defensive ends: Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul

Strahan: Pro Football Hall of Fame. Seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro. Super Bowl champion. NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001). Still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single season (22.5, 2001). Finished with team-record 141.5 sacks. Giants Ring of Honor.

Tuck: Two-time Super Bowl champion. First-team All-Pro (2008). Two-time Pro Bowler. Giants Ring of Honor. Sixth all-time with 60.5 sacks. Played his best against Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Pierre-Paul: Super Bowl champion. First-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. Recorded 16.5 sacks in 2011 and was a dominant force the entire season en route to the Super Bowl victory.

Next best: Kenny Holmes

Pass rusher: Osi Umenyiora

Two-time Super Bowl champion, first-team All-Pro (2005) and two-time Pro Bowler. Giants Ring of Honor. Fourth all-time with 75 sacks. King of the strip sack.

Next best: Mathias Kiwanuka

Defensive tackle: Dexter Lawrence

Already one of the most dominant interior linemen in the NFL, Lawrence is in the conversation for the league's best defensive player. He is a force at nose guard and should only continue to get better.

Next best: Keith Hamilton, Damon Harrison

Inside linebacker: Antonio Pierce

Super Bowl champion. Pro Bowl (2006). Recorded 491 tackles in five seasons.

Next best: Chase Blackburn

Cornerbacks: Corey Webster, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aaron Ross

Webster: 2-time Super Bowl champion and nine-year career. Was one of the unsung heroes in run to Super Bowl XLII. Picked off Brett Favre to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime at Lambeau.

Rodgers-Cromartie: One of the most entertaining characters in the last 25 years, it's sometimes lost just how good DRC was. He was valuable on the boundary and then kicked inside to nickel when needed, and was always one of the most indispensable defenders on the team.

Ross: The Giants' 2007 first-round pick fought through injuries, but was key in the secondary for both Super Bowl wins.

Next best: Janoris Jenkins

Safeties: Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips

Rolle: Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler. Started every game of a five-year free-agent contract, emerging as a key leader and captain in 2011.

Phillips: The Giants' 2008 first-round pick had two of the best seasons for a defensive back this quarter century and was on the verge of taking his profile to an elite level when a knee injury ultimately cut his career short. He was outstanding in the run to Super Bowl XLVI.

Next best: Landon Collins

Kicker: Lawrence Tynes

Two-time Super Bowl champion. Kicked the Giants to a pair of Super Bowls, both in overtime. Made the second-most field goals in franchise history (122) at an 83.6% clip.

Next best: Graham Gano

Punter: Jeff Feagles

Super Bowl XLII champ. Two-time Pro Bowler. NFL records for most career punts (1,713) and most career punting yards (71,211).

Next best: Steve Weatherford

Returner: Domenik Hixon

Spent five years with the Giants and won a ring in Super Bowl XLVI despite tearing his ACL in Week 2. His best season was 2009 when Hixon was one of the top kick and punt returners in the league.

Next best: Dwayne Harris, Ron Dixon

Long snapper: Zak DeOssie

The two-time Super Bowl champion redefined what a long snapper could be for the Giants. The focus on his play was not necessarily on his snapping during his best days; rather, DeOssie was outstanding in kick coverage and changed the way we looked at the position.

Next best: Casey Kreiter

Head coach: Tom Coughlin

Calls for his firings in 2006 and 2010 set the stage for Coughlin's greatest accomplishments. His teams played for him and responded when the chips were down to register two of the biggest victories in franchise history. Coughlin finished with a 102-90 record and, given his resume in Jacksonville as well, there's no question he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Next best: Jim Fassel

Art Stapleton is the Giants beat reporter and NFL columnist for NorthJersey.com and The Record. For unlimited access to all Giants analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and sign up for our All In on NY Giants newsletter.  

Email: [email protected]

Twitter/X and Instagram: @art_stapleton

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants All-Quarter Century Team: Which players made our team?