Tim Mara joined the newly established NFL in 1925 and used his $500 starting investment to establish the New York Giants. Unbeknownst to everyone at the time, the Mara family and the Giants would later play major roles in molding the NFL into the multibillion-dollar industry that it is today.
After finishing 11-1-1 in their third season, the Giants were crowned league champions. They would go on to win three more league championships before the Super Bowl era started in the middle of the 1960s.
With four Super Bowl victories to its credit, New York has now claimed eight championships in the modern era. It’s also important to note that the Giants’ four Super Bowl wins have occurred in four distinct decades, proving the team’s versatility in terms of players and playmaking techniques.
This also applies to the position of running back, as New York has tailbacks of all sizes and shapes going on lengthy postseason runs. The top five running backs in Giants history are listed below.
5 Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs’ size made him a one-of-a-kind runner
Though, to be honest, Jacobs was always an exception, the NFL’s emphasis on versatility these days has rendered running backs like Brandon Jacobs obsolete.
At 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds, he was a threat to play outside linebacker and no one would ever notice. Rather, the native of Louisiana overwhelmed the defenses with his bulk and muscle.
Despite never making it to the Pro Bowl, Jacobs had a greater impact on the Giants than many players who did. He was a key member of the 2007 Giants squad that defeated the unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42 and reached the 1,000-yard mark in run yards two times.
He played for the Giants for seven seasons before leaving for the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 and coming back the following year for his last campaign. While playing for New York, Jacobs gained 5,087 yards of total yardage and 60 rushing touchdowns—the highest in team history. He also won two Super Bowls.
4 Saquon Barkley
Injuries hampered Barkley throughout his time in New York
Saquon Barkley seemed to be on the verge of greatness early in his career. He was an incredible athlete with a broad range of abilities.
The Penn State product, who was selected second overall in 2018, led the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,028 and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Even though this season was meant to be a precursor to things to come, it turned out to be the height of his tenure in New York.
Barkley’s declining counting stats and efficiency in 2019 were caused by his missing time in 2019 and subsequent health issues. When he returned in 2021, he didn’t seem like the same person who had sustained an ACL tear in 2020.
Barkley came closest to returning to his 2018 form in the 2022 season, when he played in 16 games, ran for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, and finished third in the Comeback Player of the Year vote. In the end, this was Barkley’s last game with the team.
Following a mixed 2023 season marred by subpar quarterback and offensive play, he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024 offseason.
Barkley was undoubtedly a productive running back during his tenure with the Giants, as evidenced by his ranking on this list. His career was a source of frustration because New York never made the most of his talent.
Barkley was among the greatest running backs to ever play in the NFL, but the Giants have only won two Pro Bowls and amassed 5,211 rushing yards in his career. He never achieved the all-time great status that some had hoped for, but when healthy, he was one of the league’s top backs and a powerful ball carrier.
3 Joe Morris
Morris overcame his smaller stature with New York
Joe Morris utilized every second of his brief prime with the Giants. The Syracuse product, who was selected in the second round of the 1982 draft, broke through as the team’s full-time starter in 1985, rushing for 1,336 yards and 21 touchdowns while earning a spot in his first Pro Bowl. However, Morris cemented himself as an all-time Giants great the next year.
He finished fourth in the NFL MVP vote and was chosen to the First Team All-Pro after rushing for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns. Morris went on to help the Giants win their first Super Bowl by running for 313 yards in three playoff games.
He was never built to stay in the NFL at 5-foot-7 and 195 pounds, and his small size finally caught up to him in his late 20s, causing an early decline.
Morris is nevertheless maintained in the top five by his performances in 1985 and 1986. With 5,296 rushing yards and 48 rushing touchdowns, he ranks third and fourth, respectively, in franchise history.
2 Rodney Hampton
The Giants failed to maximize Hampton’s prime
Rodney Hampton, who recorded 6,897 yards in his eight-year career—all with New York—is the Giants’ all-time leading rusher after Barber.
Despite not playing because of an injury he suffered in the Divisional Round, Hampton, who was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, helped the Giants make it to the Super Bowl as a rookie by splitting the backfield with Ottis Anderson.
After taking over as the primary starter in 1991, Hampton went on to amass five seasons in a row with 1,000 yards and two Pro Bowl appearances. Hampton was a mainstay of New York’s offense throughout the majority of the 1990s, resulting in several seasons with 300 carries. With 49 rushing touchdowns, the former Georgia Bulldog is third in franchise history.
Fans outside of New York have long overlooked Hampton’s play, despite the fact that he was put into the Giants Ring of Honor. His prime came after the Giants’ championship window had closed, leaving him as merely a competent player on a mediocre squad.
1 Tiki Barber
Barber was the most productive running back in team history
Tiki Barber’s once-impressive legacy with the Giants has been somewhat tarnished in the years after his retirement. However, when it comes to the stats, he is still the greatest running back in franchise history, with 10,449 rushing yards being the highest by a wide margin.
Barber’s current status as a contentious player may be largely attributed to time. The two Super Bowl victories for the Giants, spearheaded by Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning, came before Barber’s greatest years. After his retirement, he was also a harsh critic of his former head coach and quarterback, which fueled rumors about his presence in the locker room.
Did Barber improve the Giants’ roster? Indeed. However, he appeared to irritate some people, which changed how his support base saw him. He played for New York for his whole ten-year career, winning three Pro Bowls and being named to one All-Pro team.
Whatever the current consensus on Barber, he remains a Giants Legend .
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.
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