1981 New York Giants season

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,[1] which placed them third in the National Football Conference East Division.[2] 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.[3] In the Wild Card playoffs, the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27–21 in Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. New York's season ended with a 38–24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round.[2] The 49ers would go on to win Super Bowl XVI.[4]

1981 New York Giants season
Owner	Timothy J. Mara Wellington Mara
Head coach	Ray Perkins
General manager	George Young
Home field	Giants Stadium
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	3rd NFC East
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 27–21 Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 38–24
Pro Bowlers	LB Lawrence Taylor LB Harry Carson

Offseason

NFL Draft

The Giants drafted linebacker Lawrence Taylor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[5] Taylor would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.[6]

1981 New York Giants draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	2	Lawrence Taylor * ^†	LB	North Carolina
2	32	Dave Young	TE	Purdue
3	59	John Mistler	WR	Arizona State
4	85	Clifford Chatman	RB	Central State (OK)	Played during 1982 season
5	115	Bill Neill	DT	Pittsburgh
6	145	Mel Hoover	WR	Arizona State
6	165	Edward O'Neal	RB	Tuskegee
7	168	Louis Jackson	RB	Cal Poly
8	197	John Powers	G	Michigan
8	207	Mark Reed	QB	Moorhead State
8	221	Billy Ard	G	Wake Forest
9	224	Byron Hunt	LB	SMU
10	250	Mike Barber	DT	Grambling State
12	307	Mike Maher	TE	Western Illnois
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1981 New York Giants staff

	Front office President – Wellington Mara General Manager – George Young Director of Pro Personnel – Jim Trimble Head coaches Head Coach – Ray Perkins Offensive coaches Offensive Backfield – Bob Lord Receivers – Pat Hodgson Offensive Line – Bill Austin Offensive Assistant – Ernie Adams			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Bill Parcells Defensive Line – Lamar Leachman Linebackers – Bill Belichick Defensive Backfield – Fred Glick Special teams coaches Special Teams – Romeo Crennel

Roster

1981 New York Giants roster

	Quarterbacks 12 Scott Brunner 15 Cliff Olander 11 Phil Simms Running backs 45 Leon Bright 26 Rob Carpenter 21 Louis Jackson 44 Doug Kotar 41 Bo Matthews 30 Leon Perry 38 Billy Taylor Wide receivers 88 Mike Friede 83 Earnest Gray 85 John Mistler 86 Johnny Perkins 82 Danny Pittman Tight ends 81 Tom Mullady 87 Gary Shirk 89 Dave Young		Offensive linemen 67 Billy Ard G 60 Brad Benson T 61 Ernie Hughes C 72 Gordon King T 59 Ed McGlasson C 69 Roy Simmons G 68 J. T. Turner G 73 Jeff Weston T Defensive linemen 78 Carl Barisich DT 70 Gary Jeter DE 75 George Martin DE 76 Curtis McGriff DE 77 Bill Neill DT 80 Phil Tabor DE		Linebackers 53 Harry Carson 57 Byron Hunt 55 Brian Kelley 51 Frank Marion 52 Joe McLaughlin 56 Lawrence Taylor 10 Brad Van Pelt 58 Mike Whittington Defensive backs 29 Bill Currier FS 46 Mike Dennis 37 Larry Flowers FS 36 Mark Haynes CB 24 Terry Jackson CB 28 Beasley Reece SS Special teams 18 Joe Danelo K 13 Dave Jennings P		Reserve lists 50 Jim Clack C (IR) 27 Larry Heater RB (IR)  8 Mark Reed QB (IR) 65 John Sinnott T (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics

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	Dallas Cowboys	W 13–10	9–7	Giants Stadium	73,009	Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 12

1 2 3 4 Total • Giants 3 7 0 10 20 Eagles 7 3 0 0 10 Date: November 22 Location: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 39 °F (3.9 °C), wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn) Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

Scoring summary 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

[7]

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Giants 0 3 0 7 10 • 49ers 7 7 0 3 17 Date: November 29 Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California Game start: 4:00 p.m. Game weather: 49 °F (9.4 °C), wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Fred Dryer

Scoring summary 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

[8]

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total Rams 7 0 0 0 7 • Giants 0 0 7 3 10 Date: December 6 Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 36 °F (2.2 °C), wind 28 miles per hour (45 km/h; 24 kn) Referee: Fred Silva TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden

Scoring summary 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

[9]

Week 15

1 2 3 4 Total • Giants 7 3 7 3 20 Cardinals 3 0 0 7 10 Date: December 13 Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), wind 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h; 5.2 kn) Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier and Roger Staubach

Scoring summary 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

[10]

Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 16: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Cowboys	0	0	0	10	0	10
Giants	0	0	7	3	3	13

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: December 19, 1981
• Game time: 12:30 p.m.
• Game weather: 26 °F (−3 °C)
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

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.[11] 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.[12] Neither team scored in the first half;[13] Giants kicker Joe Danelo missed two field goal attempts from inside 30 yards in the first quarter.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[17] Danelo was called on again, and his 35-yard field goal clinched a 13–10 victory for the Giants.[17] The following day, the New York Jets defeated the Green Bay Packers, giving the Giants their first playoff berth since 1963.[3]

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

NFC East
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Dallas Cowboys^(2)	12	4	0	.750	6–2	8–4	367	277	L1
Philadelphia Eagles^(4)	10	6	0	.625	4–4	7–5	368	221	W1
New York Giants^(5)	9	7	0	.563	5–3	8–6	295	257	W3
Washington Redskins	8	8	0	.500	3–5	6–6	347	349	W3
St. Louis Cardinals	7	9	0	.438	2–6	4–8	315	408	L2

References

1. "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
2. "1981 New York Giants". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
3. Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants. Chicago: Triumph Books. pp. 195–196. ISBN 978-1-57243-641-1.
4. Massa, Mike (January 10, 2020). "49ers' playoff history as the top seed in the NFC". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
5. "1981 New York Giants Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
6. "Lawrence Taylor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
7. "New York Giants 20 at Philadelphia Eagles 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
8. "New York Giants 10 at San Francisco 49ers 17". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
9. "Los Angeles Rams 7 at New York Giants 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
10. "New York Giants 20 at St. Louis Cardinals 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
11. Whittingham, p. 195.
12. Baker, Jim; Corbett, Bernard M. (2010). The Most Memorable Games in Giants History: The Oral History of a Legendary Team. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-60819-074-4.
13. "Dallas Cowboys 10 at New York Giants 13". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
14. Gola, Hank (December 31, 2011). "Joe Danelo recalls '81 NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys match as a day filled with emotions". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
15. Baker and Corbett, p. 197.
16. Baker and Corbett, pp. 197–198.
17. Litsky, Frank (December 20, 1981). "Giants Win In Overtime; Playoff Spot On Line Today". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
18. Baker and Corbett, p. 199.