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1974 New York Giants season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| logo = 1974-giants-mediaguide.jpg

| size = 220px

| caption =

| team = New York Giants

| year = 1974

| record = 2–12

| division_place = 5th NFC East

| coach = Bill Arnsparger

| owner = Timothy J. Mara,
Wellington Mara

| stadium = Yale Bowl

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = None

| shortnavlink = Giants seasons

}}

The 1974 New York Giants season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League. The Giants finished in last place in the National Football Conference East Division with a 2–12 record, the team's worst since 1966.{{cite web | title = 1974 New York Giants | publisher = Pro Football Reference | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1974.htm | access-date = May 8, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090501161618/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1974.htm| archive-date= May 1, 2009| url-status= live}}{{cite web | title = New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia | publisher = Pro Football Reference | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/ | access-date = May 8, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033049/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/| archive-date= April 29, 2009| url-status= live}}

The Giants’ home venue in 1974 was the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut,{{cite news | last = Malafronte | first = Chip | title = New Haven 200: New York Giants called Yale Bowl home from 1973–74 | work = New Haven Register | date = October 8, 2012 | url = http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20121008/new-haven-200-new-york-giants-called-yale-bowl-home-from-1973-74 | access-date = October 22, 2014}} and they were winless at home in seven games. They won only one of twelve games at the Yale Bowl in 1973 and 1974. The Giants played at Shea Stadium in Queens in 1975 and opened Giants Stadium in New Jersey in October 1976.{{cite news | last = Canavan | first = Tom | title = Giants Stadium was symbol of sports in New Jersey | work = The Seattle Times | date = January 1, 2010 | url = http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2010665471_apfarewelltogiantsstadium.html | access-date = October 24, 2014}}

The 1974 Giants hold the distinction of being the first team to lose a regular season game in overtime.{{cite web|title=NFL's First Experiment With OT|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/nfl-s-first-experiment-with-ot/|access-date=October 20, 2020}} In week nine, the 2–6 Giants welcomed the cross-town rival Jets to the Yale Bowl. With the Giants leading 20–13 in the fourth quarter, Joe Namath faked a handoff to Emerson Boozer, then ran into the end zone for a touchdown which tied the score at 20–20, forcing overtime;{{cite news|last=Gross|first=Andrew|title=Giants vs. Jets at Yale Bowl: Namath's bootleg a keepsake|work=Newsday|date=September 6, 2018|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/giants-vs-jets-at-yale-bowl-namath-s-bootleg-a-keepsake-1.20846373|access-date=October 20, 2020}} previously, a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos had ended in a 35–35 tie. The Giants were denied a game-winning score when Pete Gogolak missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, despite protests from Gogolak that he had made the kick. The Jets subsequently won 26–20 on a five-yard pass from Namath to Boozer after 6:53 of play in the extra period.

Offseason

=Draft=

{{main article|1974 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start|year=1974|teamname=New York Giants}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=1|pick=3|player=John Hicks|position=Guard|college=Ohio State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=2|pick=28|player=Tom Mullen|position=Guard|college=Southwest Missouri State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=3|pick=55|player=Rick Dvorak|position=Defensive tackle|college=Wichita State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=4|pick=80|player=Carl Summerell|position=Quarterback|college=East Carolina|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=107|player=Don Clune|position=Wide receiver|college=Penn|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=5|pick=119|player=Clyde Powers|position=Defensive back|college=Oklahoma|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=6|pick=132|player=Jim Pietrzak|position=Center|college=Eastern Michigan|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=7|pick=159|player=Marty Woolbright|position=Tight end|college=South Carolina|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=8|pick=184|player=Ezil Bibbs|position=Defensive end|college=Grambling State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=9|pick=211|player=Jim Rathje|position=Running back|college=Northern Michigan|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=10|pick=236|player=Ray Rhodes|position=Defensive back|college=Tulsa|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=11|pick=263|player=Bobby Brooks|position=Defensive back|college=Bishop|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=12|pick=288|player=Jimmy Sims|position=Linebacker|college=USC|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=13|pick=315|player=Dennis Colvin|position=Tackle|college=Southwest Texas State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=14|pick=340|player=Mike Hayes|position=Tackle|college=Virginia State|notes=}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=15|pick=367|player=Larry Jones|position=Wingback|college=Northeast Missouri State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=16|pick=392|player=Buddy Brown|position=Guard|college=Alabama|notes=Signed with Birmingham Americans (WFL)}}

{{NFL team draft entry|round=17|pick=419|player=Steve Crosby|position=Running back|college=Fort Hays State|notes=|maderoster=yes}}

{{NFL team draft end|hof=no|probowl=no}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyg/1974_draft.htm|title=1974 New York Giants Draftees|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=February 13, 2022}}

Roster

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1974

| team = New York Giants

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|12|Jim Del Gaizo}}

{{NFLplayer|16|Norm Snead}}

{{NFLplayer|15|Craig Morton}}

{{NFLplayer|19|Carl Summerell|rookie=y}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|26|Joe Dawkins}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Ron Johnson|d=running back}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Doug Kotar|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Leon McQuay|rookie=y}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|88|Don Clune|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|84|Walker Gillette}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Bob Grim|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Don Herrmann}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Ray Rhodes|rookie=y}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|87|John Strada|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Bob Tucker|d=American football}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|61|Karl Chandler|rookie=y|C}}

{{NFLplayer|62|Dick Enderle|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|John Hicks|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|52|John Hill|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Bob Hyland|C}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Tom Mullen|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Doug Van Horn|T}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Willie Young|d=offensive tackle, born 1943|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|66|Rick Dvorak|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Jack Gregory|d=defensive end|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|72|George Hasenohrl|rookie=y|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Roy Hilton|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Larry Jacobson|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|64|John Mendenhall|d=American football|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|91|Gary Pettigrew|DT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|67|Ron Hornsby}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Pat Hughes|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Brian Kelley|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Andy Selfridge}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Bill Singletary|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|10|Brad Van Pelt}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|37|Bobby Brooks|d=defensive back|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Chuck Crist|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Honor Jackson}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Spider Lockhart|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|39|Clyde Powers|rookie=y|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|18|Eldridge Small|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Jim Stienke|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|3|Pete Gogolak|K}}

{{NFLplayer|13|Dave Jennings|d=American football|rookie=y|P}}

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

}}

Schedule

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background: #fcc;"

! 1

| September 15

| Washington Redskins

| L 10–13

| 0–1

| Yale Bowl

| 49,849

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409150nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 2

| September 22

| New England Patriots

| L 20–28

| 0–2

| Yale Bowl

| 44,082

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #cfc;"

! 3

| September 29

| at Dallas Cowboys

| W 14–6

| 1–2

| Texas Stadium

| 45,841

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290dal.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 4

| October 6

| Atlanta Falcons

| L 7–14

| 1–3

| Yale Bowl

| 42,379

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410060nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 5

| October 13

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| L 7–35

| 1–4

| Veterans Stadium

| 64,801

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130phi.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 6

| October 20

| at Washington Redskins

| L 3–24

| 1–5

| RFK Stadium

| 53,879

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200was.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 7

| October 27

| Dallas Cowboys

| L 7–21

| 1–6

| Yale Bowl

| 57,381

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410270nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #cfc;"

! 8

| November 3

| at Kansas City Chiefs

| W 33–27

| 2–6

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 61,437

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030kan.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 9

| November 10

| New York Jets

| L 20–26 (OT)

| 2–7

| Yale Bowl

| 64,327

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 10

| November 17

| at Detroit Lions

| L 19–20

| 2–8

| Tiger Stadium

| 40,431

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411170det.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 11

| November 24

| St. Louis Cardinals

| L 21–23

| 2–9

| Yale Bowl

| 40,615

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 12

| December 1

| at Chicago Bears

| L 13–16

| 2–10

| Soldier Field

| 18,802

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412010chi.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 13

| December 8

| Philadelphia Eagles

| L 7–20

| 2–11

| Yale Bowl

| 21,170

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412080nyg.htm Recap]

style="background: #fcc;"

! 14

| December 15

| at St. Louis Cardinals

| L 14–26

| 2–12

| Busch Memorial Stadium

| 47,414

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150crd.htm Recap]

  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

=Week 3 at Cowboys=

{{See also|1974 Dallas Cowboys season|Cowboys–Giants rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

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|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

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|date=September 29

|time=2:00 p.m.

|road=Giants

|R1= 0|R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=0

|home=Cowboys

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=6

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=45,841{{cite book | title = 75 Cowboys | publisher = Dallas Cowboys | year = 1975 | page = 72 | url = http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/1970s/1975-media-guide.tekdownload | access-date = February 19, 2021 | archive-date = January 29, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064040/http://media.dallascowboys.com/media-guide/1970s/1975-media-guide.tekdownload | url-status = dead }}

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|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290dal.htm Box Score]

|stats=

{{Col-begin}}

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{{Col-2}}

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{{Col-end}}

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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=NYG|HomeName=DAL|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Giants

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| Visitor=14

| Home=0

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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Cowboys

| DrivePlays=

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| QB=Roger Staubach

| yards=35

| kickresult=no good

| Kicker=Mac Percival

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=14

| Home=6

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{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=14|Home=6}}

=Week 9 vs Jets=

{{See also|1974 New York Jets season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|New York Giants|year=1974|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week Nine: New York Jets (1–7) at New York Giants (2–6)

|date=November 10, 1974

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Jets

|R1=7 |R2=3 |R3=3 |R4=7 |R5=6

|home=Giants

|H1=3 |H2=10 |H3=7 |H4=0 |H5=0

|stadium=Yale Bowl, New Haven, Connecticut

|attendance=64,327

|weather={{convert|50|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100nyg.htm Box Score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • NYG – Bob Tucker 2-yard pass from Craig Morton (Pete Gogolak kick). Giants 10–7. Drive:
  • NYJ – Pat Leahy 34-yard field goal. Tie 10–10. Drive:
  • NYG – Pete Gogolak 22-yard field goal. Giants 13–10. Drive:

Third quarter

  • NYJ – Pat Leahy 22-yard field goal. Tie 13–13. Drive:
  • NYG – Bob Grim 12-yard pass from Craig Morton (Pete Gogolak kick). Giants 20–13. Drive:

Fourth quarter

  • NYJ – Joe Namath 3-yard run (Pat Leahy kick). Tie 20–20. Drive:

Overtime

  • NYJ – Emerson Boozer 5-yard pass from Joe Namath. Jets 26–20. Drive:

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

  • NYJ – Robert Burns – 21 rushes, 101 yards
  • NYG – Joe Dawkins – 11 rushes, 49 yards

;Top receivers

}}

=Week 11 vs Cardinals=

{{See also|1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season}}

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|date=November 24

|time=1:00 p.m.

|road=Cardinals

|R1=6 |R2=0 |R3=7 |R4=10

|home=Giants

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=Yale Bowl • New Haven, Connecticut

|attendance=40,615{{cite news | title = The Yale Bowl and the Giants | work = Newsday | date = September 5, 2018 | url = https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/giants/the-yale-bowl-and-the-giants-1.20846261 | access-date = January 26, 2019}}

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{{Col-begin}}

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{{Col-2}}

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{{Col-end}}

}}

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| Quarter=1

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| Team=Cardinals

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| Kicker=Jim Bakken

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| Home=0

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| Quarter=2

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| Team=Cardinals

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| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| Visitor=6

| Home=0

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| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

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| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Ron Johnson

| yards=2

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=6

| Home=7

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Giants

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Bob Tucker

| QB=Craig Morton

| yards=29

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=6

| Home=14

}}

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| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

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| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Earl Thomas

| QB=Jim Hart

| yards=16

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=13

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Mel Gray

| QB=Jim Hart

| yards=45

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=20

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

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| Time=

| Team=Giants

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| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Walker Gillette

| QB=Craig Morton

| yards=17

| kickresult= good

| Kicker=Pete Gogolak

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=20

| Home=21

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Cardinals

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=36

| Kicker=Jim Bakken

| Visitor=23

| Home=21

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=23|Home=21}}

Standings

{{1974 NFC East standings}}

{{1974 NFC Central standings}}

{{1974 NFC West standings}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{New York Giants}}

{{New York Giants seasons}}

{{1974 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 New York Giants Season}}

Category:New York Giants seasons

New York Giants

New York Giants season

Category:History of New Haven, Connecticut

Category:Sports in New Haven, Connecticut