NY Giants History

NY Giants in 20's

1925

● Tim Mara purchased a National Football League franchise for New York for $500. 

●Bob Folwell was named head coach. 

● All-time great Jim Thorpe was signed. Thorpe was later released by the team after the third game of the season. 

●The Giants played their first game at the Polo Grounds, losing to the Frankford Yellow Jackets, 14-0. Later that season, more than 70,000 jammed the Polo Grounds to see the Giants play Red Grange and the Chicago Bears. The Giants went 8-4 in their first season.

1926

●Bob Folwell left and was replaced by Dr. Joseph Alexander as head coach. Despite an 8-4-1 record in 1926, Tim Mara lost $40,000. 

●After the season concluded, the seventh place Giants faced the American Football League champion Philadelphia Quakers. The Giants won convincingly, 31-0.

1927

● Earl Potteiger replaced Dr. Joseph Alexander in 1927 and the Giants won their first title with an 11-1-1 record. (Note: until the NFL’s playoff system was established in 1933, the team with the league’s best record was awarded the championship title.) 

●In the 13-game season the Giants defense posted ten shutouts and allowed only 20 points all year.

1928

● After a dismal 4-7-2 season in 1928, Tim Mara decided it was best to clean house. Head coach Earl Potteiger and eighteen players were not asked to return for the following season. Tackle Steve Owen would be the only returning starter from that season. It still ranks as one of the most massive turnovers in football history.

1929

● Before the season began, Tim Mara purchased a struggling Detroit Wolverines franchise in order to obtain the rights to quarterback Benny Friedman and the best of the Detroit players for the Giants. LeRoy Andrews became the new head coach. 

●The 13-1-1 Giants averaged 25,000 fans, turned a small profit and narrowly lost the NFL title to the Green Bay Packers, who finished 12-0-1.