When recalling the good defenses of the New York Giants again within the Invoice Parcells and Invoice Belichick period, the primary identify that rolls off the tongue is their legendary linebacker, Lawrence Taylor.
Different gamers who get recognition are Corridor of Fame linebacker Harry Carson and dominating defensive finish Leonard Marshall.
Carl Banks? He was good, too. Correction: Banks was higher than good.
The low-key Banks, the third total choice by the Giants within the 1984 NFL draft, was among the best outdoors linebackers of his period. To today, many NFL historians and former gamers recount simply how good Banks was in Taylor’s shadow.
I’ve mentioned this earlier than and I’ll say it once more. Baldy as soon as instructed me that Banks was among the best OLB’s in opposition to the run he performed in opposition to and that groups recreation deliberate to run away from him. Sure, even with LT on different facet.
— The Big Insider Podcast and Newspaper (@GiantInsider) February 11, 2025
The “Baldy” being referred to right here is Brian Baldinger, a former offensive lineman who performed for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Payments, and Philadelphia Eagles within the Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties.
Baldinger, now an NFL Community analyst, is well-respected for his evaluation and, as a up to date of his, can confidently say his first-hand accounts of Banks’ play are dead-on.
Banks, now a recreation day radio voice throughout Giants video games together with Bob Papa, has garnered many an accolade over time.
Papa tweeted out that the good Corridor of Fame offensive deal with Anthony Munoz as soon as instructed him that Banks “instructed me the identical” factor about Banks that Baldinger had claimed relating to groups working away from Banks.
1987: The most effective pair of OLB within the NFL within the 80s was @LT_56 & @CarlBanksGIII. They each made the Professional Bowl & named All Professional in 1987. Banks stuffed Herschel to deal with Dorsett for a loss & 3 performs later LT snagged a select of nowhere. LT then received a sack/fumble at Dallas #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/nPxiNSjipP
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) February 11, 2025
Banks is a member of the Giants Ring of Honor and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Workforce of the Nineteen Eighties. He was an All-Professional choice in 1987.
Banks was a legend in faculty at Michigan State the place he was a three-time All-Huge Ten choice. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 2011 and the MSU Athletic Corridor of Fame in 2012.
Banks was a semifinalist for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2020.
