1981 New York Giants season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 New York Giants 1981 9–7 3rd NFC East Ray Perkins Bill Parcells George Young Timothy J. MaraWellington Mara Giants Stadium Won Wild Card Playoffs(at Eagles) 27–21 Lost Divisional Playoffs(at 49ers) 24–38 LB Lawrence TaylorLB Harry Carson Giants seasons The 1981 New York Giants season was the franchise's 57th season in the National Football League. The Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 18 years with a 9–7 record, New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/ May 11, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033049/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/ April 29, 2009 live which placed them third in the National Football Conference East Division. 1981 New York Giants Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1981.htm May 11, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090414152854/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1981.htm April 14, 2009 live The Giants qualified for the postseason thanks to an overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the last game of the season, coupled with a loss by the Green Bay Packers. Whittingham Richard Illustrated History of the New York Giants Triumph Books 2005 Chicago 195–196 978-1-57243-641-1 In the Wild Card playoff game, the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27–21 at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. New York's season ended with a 38–24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round. The 49ers would go on to win Super Bowl XVI. Massa Mike 49ers' playoff history as the top seed in the NFC San Francisco Chronicle January 10, 2020 https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/49ers-playoff-history-as-the-top-seed-in-the-14957655.php February 4, 2020 Offseason NFL draft The Giants drafted linebacker Lawrence Taylor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1981_draft.htm 1981 New York Giants Draftees Pro Football Reference January 16, 2021 Taylor would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.Lawrence Taylor Pro Football Hall of Fame https://www.profootballhof.com/players/lawrence-taylor/ November 20, 2019 1981 NFL draft 1981 New York Giants 1 2 Lawrence Taylor LB North Carolina yes yes yes 2 32 Dave Young TE Purdue yes 3 59 John Mistler WR Arizona State yes 4 85 Clifford Chatman RB Central State (OK) Played during 1982 season 5 115 Bill Neill DT Pittsburgh yes 6 145 Mel Hoover WR Arizona State 6 165 Edward O'Neal RB Tuskegee 7 168 Louis Jackson RB Cal Poly yes 8 197 John Powers G Michigan 8 207 Mark Reed QB Moorhead State 8 221 Billy Ard G Wake Forest yes 9 224 Byron Hunt LB SMU yes 10 250 Mike Barber DT Grambling State 12 307 Mike Maher TE Western Illinois Undrafted free agents + 1981 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJim BurtDefensive tackleMiami (FL)Bob IrelandDefensive backHoly Cross Personnel Staff 1981 New York Giants President – Wellington Mara General Manager – George Young Director of Pro Personnel – Jim Trimble Head Coach – Ray Perkins Offensive Backfield – Bob Lord Receivers – Pat Hodgson Offensive Line – Bill Austin Offensive Assistant – Ernie Adams Defensive Coordinator – Bill Parcells Defensive Line – Lamar Leachman Linebackers – Bill Belichick Defensive Backfield – Fred Glick Special Teams – Romeo Crennel Roster 1981 New York Giants 12 Scott Brunner 15 Cliff Olander 45 Leon Bright 26 Rob Carpenter running back 35 Ike Forte 21 Louis Jackson American football y 30 Leon Perry 88 Mike Friede 83 Earnest Gray 85 John Mistler y 86 Johnny Perkins 82 Danny Pittman 81 Tom Mullady 87 Gary Shirk 89 Dave Young American football y 67 Billy Ard y G 60 Brad Benson T 50 Jim Clack C 72 Gordon King American football T 59 Ed McGlasson C 69 Roy Simmons American football G 68 J. T. Turner G 73 Jeff Weston American football T 64 Jim Burt American football y NT 79 Dee Hardison DE 70 Gary Jeter DE 75 George Martin American football DE 77 Bill Neill y NT 80 Phil Tabor DE 53 Harry Carson ILB 57 Byron Hunt y OLB 55 Brian Kelley American football ILB 51 Frank Marion American football ILB 52 Joe McLaughlin American football ILB 56 Lawrence Taylor y OLB 10 Brad Van Pelt OLB 58 Mike Whittington OLB 29 Bill Currier SS 46 Mike Dennis defensive back CB 37 Larry Flowers American football SS 36 Mark Haynes CB 24 Terry Jackson cornerback CB 28 Beasley Reece FS 18 Joe Danelo K 13 Dave Jennings American football P -- Clifford Chatman y RB IR 27 Larry Heater RB IR 61 Ernie Hughes C IR -- Dennis Johnson fullback TE IR -- Bruce Kimball American football G IR 44 Doug Kotar RB IR 71 Myron Lapka NT IR 54 Dan Lloyd American football LB NF-Ill. 76 Curtis McGriff DE IR  8 Mark Reed American football y QB IR 11 Phil Simms QB IR 65 John Sinnott American football T IR -- Mark Slawson y no WR IR 99 Kervin Wyatt LB IR Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 August 8, 1981 at Chicago Bears W 23–7 1–0 Soldier Field 59,411 2 August 15, 1981 Baltimore Colts W 20–17 2–0 Giants Stadium 40,716 3 August 22, 1981 New York Jets L 24–37 2–1 Giants Stadium 74,692 4 August 29, 1981 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 6–31 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 51,311https://www.profootballarchives.com/1981nflnyg.html 1981 New York Giants (NFL) Pro Football Archives November 12, 2023 Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 6 Philadelphia Eagles L 10–24 0–1 Giants Stadium 72,459 Recap 2 September 13 at Washington Redskins W 17–7 1–1 RFK Stadium 53,343 Recap 3 September 20 New Orleans Saints W 20–7 2–1 Giants Stadium 69,814 Recap 4 September 27 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–18 2–2 Texas Stadium 63,449 Recap 5 October 4 Green Bay Packers L 14–27 2–3 Giants Stadium 73,684 Recap 6 October 11 St. Louis Cardinals W 34–14 3–3 Giants Stadium 67,128 Recap 7 October 18 at Seattle Seahawks W 32–0 4–3 Kingdome 56,134 Recap 8 October 25 at Atlanta Falcons W 27–24 5–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 48,410 Recap 9 November 1 New York Jets L 7–26 5–4 Giants Stadium 74,740 Recap 10 November 8 at Green Bay Packers L 24–26 5–5 Milwaukee County Stadium 54,138 Recap 11 November 15 Washington Redskins L 27–30 5–6 Giants Stadium 63,133 Recap 12 November 22 at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–10 6–6 Veterans Stadium 66,827 Recap 13 November 29 at San Francisco 49ers L 10–17 6–7 Candlestick Park 57,186 Recap 14 December 6 Los Angeles Rams W 10–7 7–7 Giants Stadium 59,659 Recap 15 December 13 at St. Louis Cardinals W 20–10 8–7 Busch Memorial Stadium 47,358 Recap 16 December 19, 1981 Dallas Cowboys W 13–10 9–7 Giants Stadium 73,009 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 12 Giants 3 7 0 10 Eagles 7 3 0 0 November 22 Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1:00 p.m. 39 °F 1, wind 16 mph km/h knots Jim Tunney Pat Summerall and John Madden CBS yes 1 NYG Joe Danelo 39 yard field goal Giants 3–0 1 PHI Keith Krepfle 6 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) Eagles 7–3 2 NYG Leon Bright 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) Giants 10–3 2 PHI Tony Franklin 27 yard field goal Eagles 10–10 4 NYG Joe Danelo 30 yard field goal Giants 13–10 4 NYG Terry Jackson 32 yard interception return (Joe Danelo kick) Giants 20–10 yes New York Giants 20 at Philadelphia Eagles 10 Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111220phi.htm June 28, 2015 This was the Giants' first win over the Eagles since 1975.All Matchups, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=phi&tm2=nyg&yr=all June 29, 2021 Week 13 Giants 0 3 0 7 49ers 7 7 0 3 November 29 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California 4:00 p.m. 49 °F 1, wind 10 mph km/h knots Jerry Markbreit Tim Ryan and Fred Dryer CBS yes 1 SF Johnny Davis 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 7–0 2 SF Joe Montana 20 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 14–0 2 NYG Joe Danelo 52 yard field goal 49ers 14–3 4 NYG Rob Carpenter 3 yard run (Joe Danelo kick) 49ers 14–10 4 SF Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal 49ers 17–10 yes New York Giants 10 at San Francisco 49ers 17 Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111290sfo.htm June 28, 2015 Week 14 Rams 7 0 0 0 Giants 0 0 7 3 December 6 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 1:00 p.m. EST 36 °F 1, wind 28 mph km/h knots Fred Silva Pat Summerall and John Madden CBS yes 1 LAR Wendell Tyler 2 yard rush Scott Brunner (Frank Corrall kick) Rams 7–0 3 NYG Rob Carpenter 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) Tie 7–7 4 NYG Joe Danelo 19 yard field goal Giants 10–7 yes Los Angeles Rams 7 at New York Giants 10 Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112060nyg.htm June 27, 2015 Week 15 Giants 7 3 7 3 Cardinals 3 0 0 7 December 13 Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri 12:00 p.m. 32 °F, wind 6 mph km/h knots Gordon McCarter Tom Brookshier and Roger Staubach CBS yes 1 STL Neil O'Donoghue 30 yard field goal Cardinals 3–0 1 NYG George Martin 20 yard fumble return (Joe Danelo kick) Giants 7–3 2 NYG Joe Danelo 27 yard field goal Giants 10–3 3 NYG Rob Carpenter 1 yard run (Joe Danelo kick) Giants 17–3 4 NYG Joe Danelo 33 yard field goal Giants 20–3 4 STL Greg LaFleur 3 yard pass from Neil Lomax (Neil O'Donoghue kick) Giants 20–10 yes New York Giants 20 at St. Louis Cardinals 10 Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112130crd.htm August 25, 2013 Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys 1981 Dallas Cowboys season New York Giants 1981 2; text-align:center collapsed Week 16: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants December 19, 1981 12:30 p.m. Cowboys 0 0 0 10 0 Giants 0 0 7 3 3 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 26 F C Pat Haggerty CBS Pat Summerall and John Madden Pro-Football-Reference.com First quarter No scoring plays. Second quarter No scoring plays. Third quarter NYG – Tom Mullady 20 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 7–0. Fourth quarter DAL – Doug Cosbie 3 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). Tie 7–7. DAL – Rafael Septién 36 yard field goal. Cowboys 10–7. NYG – Joe Danelo 40 yard field goal. Tie 10–10. Overtime NYG – Joe Danelo 35 yard field goal. Giants 13–10. Top passers DAL – Danny White – 17/33, 200 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT NYG – Scott Brunner – 13/27, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Top rushers DAL – Tony Dorsett – 20 rushes, 39 yards NYG – Rob Carpenter – 29 rushes, 83 yards Top receivers DAL – Billy Joe DuPree – 3 receptions, 44 yards NYG – John Mistler – 3 receptions, 37 yards Heading into their last regular season game, the Giants needed a win over the Dallas Cowboys to remain in postseason contention.Whittingham, p. 195. Dallas, the NFC East champions, required a victory against New York, along with a loss by the San Francisco 49ers, to clinch home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Baker Jim Corbett Bernard M. The Most Memorable Games in Giants History: The Oral History of a Legendary Team Bloomsbury Publishing 2010 195 978-1-60819-074-4 Neither team scored in the first half; Dallas Cowboys 10 at New York Giants 13 Pro Football Reference https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112190nyg.htm July 21, 2013 Giants kicker Joe Danelo missed two field goal attempts from inside 30 yards in the first quarter. Gola Hank Joe Danelo recalls '81 NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys match as a day filled with emotions New York Daily News December 31, 2011 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/joe-danelo-recalls-81-ny-giants-dallas-cowboys-match-day-filled-emotions-article-1.999361 December 1, 2016 The Giants opened the scoring during their second possession of the second half, as Scott Brunner completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tom Mullady. On the final play of the third quarter, Dallas wide receiver Tony Hill caught a 44-yard pass from Danny White; three plays later, White threw a touchdown pass to Doug Cosbie, which allowed the Cowboys to tie the game, 7–7.Baker and Corbett, p. 197. On the Giants' next drive, Brunner threw an interception to Michael Downs; after taking possession in Giants territory, the Cowboys went in front on a 36-yard field goal by Rafael Septién.Baker and Corbett, pp. 197–198. Dallas held a three-point lead into the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, when a Tony Dorsett fumble gave the Giants the ball at the Cowboys' 45-yard-line. Inside the final minute, Danelo attempted a game-tying field goal from 40 yards. His kick was good, and the game was forced into overtime. Litsky Frank Giants Win In Overtime; Playoff Spot On Line Today The New York Times December 20, 1981 https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/20/sports/giants-win-in-overtime-playoff-spot-on-line-today.html?pagewanted=all December 1, 2016 The Giants had the first possession of overtime after winning the coin toss, but were forced to punt. On the Cowboys' second play of their first overtime drive, Dorsett was unable to field a pitch by White; Lawrence Taylor recovered the fumble and the Giants gained possession at the Dallas 40-yard-line.Baker and Corbett, p. 199. Danelo's ensuing 33-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful, hitting an upright. The Giants then forced another Cowboys turnover, as White was intercepted by Byron Hunt, who returned the ball to the Dallas 24-yard-line. Danelo was called on again, and his 35-yard field goal clinched a 13–10 victory for the Giants. The following day, the New York Jets defeated the Green Bay Packers, giving the Giants their first playoff berth since 1963. Playoffs Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Venue Attendance Recap Wildcard December 27 at Philadelphia Eagles (4) W 27–21 Veterans Stadium 71,611 Recap Divisional January 3, 1982 at San Francisco 49ers (1) L 24–38 Candlestick Park 58,360 Recap Standings References 30em External links 1981 New York Giants at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1981 New York Giants at jt-sw.com Category:New York Giants seasons New York Giants New York Giants season Category:20th century in East Rutherford, New Jersey Category:Meadowlands Sports Complex