Former New York Giants great Carl Banks has another honor to add to his resume — he’s one of the 100 greatest players in team history.
The ex-linebacker — who has more recently made headlines as an entrepreneur by partnering with Starter to re-ignite the iconic brand known for its apparel — reveals that he’s been named one of the team’s 100 best players as they prepare to celebrate their 100th anniversary this season.
“I just got my letter from the Giants informing me that I am one of the 100 greatest players in the history of the franchise,” reveals Banks in a one-on-one interview. “I don't know where I rank there, but just to be there, just to be one of the 100 greatest players in the history of the franchise is pretty cool to me.”
The 61-year-old was one of the top linebackers throughout the 80’s and early 90’s as he helped lead the Bill Parcells-coached Giants to two Super Bowls. Alongside fellow linebacker Lawrence Taylor, Banks helped lead New York to six top 10 defensive rankings during his nine years (1984-1992) with the franchise. That’s in addition to being named a First-Team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler in 1987 after leading the team with 101 tackles.
While it’s clear Banks’ legacy with the Giants is secure, what isn’t as clear is the team’s future in general. The Giants are coming off of a rough 6-11 season just a year after winning a playoff game. Their season was marked by notable injuries, including to quarterback Daniel Jones just months after he signed a massive four-year, $160 million contract extension.
Jones — who was limited to just six games after suffering a torn right ACL — is participating in 7-on-7 drills during OTAs and is expected to be ready by the time the season starts in September. However, he faces a lot of scrutiny as he makes his return to his large salary and his lack of success as Giants starter, going just 22-36-1 during his five-year career as starter.
Prior to his injury, Jones went 1-5 while throwing two touchdowns against six interceptions for a 70.5 passer rating. Stretched over the course of an entire season, that passer rating would have been the lowest in the NFL.
It also doesn’t help matters that the Giants brought in former Denver Broncos starting quarterback and ex-Seattle Seahawks backup Drew Lock as potential competition for Jones entering training camp.
Despite Jones’ lack of consistency as a starter, Banks pinpoints the team’s struggles from last season due to their porous offensive line. The Giants were by far the most-sacked team in the NFL last season, allowing 85 sacks — 20 more than the next worst team. It’s also the second-most sacks allowed in NFL history.
“Some people think he was never good and that's fine,” says Banks. “In the NFL, if you give up a historical amount of sacks, number one, your quarterback doesn't finish the season. Number two, he doesn't make great decisions under duress because he's getting hit so much. That's a reality that people want to discount. I'm a guy who hit quarterbacks. I know how it impacts their decision making. And when you give up a record amount of sacks, decision making gets tough.”
Banks doubles down on defending Jones, making the argument that people need to look at the entire picture for why he struggled so much last season.
“He (Jones) didn't play well last year prior to getting injured,” says Banks. “But he would tell you that too. There's a cause and effect to that. People always accuse me of being a Daniel Jones sympathizer, but I understand how the game is played and fans see it in a different lens. You have to look at the entire process of why people fail or succeed.”
There’s a belief that the Giants played better under the leadership of backup quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Tommy Devito. The Giants went 5-6 with the two starting games, while winning just one game in the six games Jones started.
However, Banks believes there wasn’t much of an increase in offensive output with Taylor and Devito at quarterback compared to with Jones under center. The Giants great predicts Jones will be the starter entering the season and that it’s “his job to lose.” However, he does believe there will be a competition between Jones and Lock.
“It's Daniel Jones' job to lose, but I think they're going to compete,” says Banks. “I don't think it's really going to matter if the offensive line doesn't play well. I think this offensive line will be the key to whoever wins the starting quarterback job. If it's Drew Lock, I think everybody will get behind that. But it's Daniel Jones' job to lose.”
While the offensive line will obviously be key and instrumental towards the Giants’ success, the starting quarterback won’t have any shortage of quality receiving options to throw to. New York selected LSU standout Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick and the Giants return veteran Darius Slayton, 2023 draft pick Jalin Hyatt and former second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson.
Although many observers don’t expect the Giants to make it to the playoffs, Banks disagrees — he does believe the playoffs are a possibility.
“I don't have expectations other than to see an improved roster,” says Banks. “But I think playoffs are a possibility in a 17-game season. You just have to stay active and be alive by Halloween. If you can stay healthy and not be eliminated by Halloween, you can find a path to the playoffs. That doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have a 10 or 11-win season. But it depends on what the rest of the division is. If the division is having a down year and you're staying alive, you'll find your way in.”
