The New York Giants have had six players who have returned over 100 punts for them in their 95-year history: Emlen Tunnell (257), Phil McConkey (213), Dave Meggett (202), Tiki Barber (122), Amani Toomer (109) and Leon Bright (106).
Tunnell and Meggett were the most prolific. Tunnell ran back six punts for touchdowns and Meggett ran back five. Toomer, the Giants’ alltime leader in receiving yards, took three punts to the house.
McConkey was gritty but his longest return was for just 37 yards. Barber averaged 9.7 yards per attempt and had an 85-yard return for a touchdown.
Perhaps the most memorable returner was Bright, a former Florida State star who began his professional career in the CFL with the British Columbia Lions as an everyman who could play running back, defensive back and special teams.
Bright came to the Giants as a free agent in 1981, the year the Giants drafted Lawrence Taylor with the second overall selection in the NFL Draft and finally qualified for the postseason for the first time since 1963.
In 1981, Bright returned 52 punts for 410 yards and 25 kickoffs for 481 yards. In his second season, Bright led the NFL in both punt returns (37) and punt return yardage (325) in a strike-shortened season.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 15, 2020 de The Giant Insider.
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THE HOT SEAT
No matter what John Mara says, Dave Gettleman’s job is on the line
WEEK 1: BRONCOS AT GIANTS
The 2021 season kicks off at MetLife
Northwest Huntsman
TGI sat down with guard Shane Lemieux
WEEK 2: GIANTS AT WFT
Primetime divisional showdown in DC
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The X factor, Kadarius Toney is falling behind and The big tight end is back
The GMEN'S all-time record against their 2021 opponents
As we inch closer to opening day of the 2021 sea son, let’s take a look at how the Giants have fared historically against their opponents on this year’s schedule:
THE 12TH DIMENSION
My crack at the final 53 (in real time)
Reviewing the best Giants' WRs of all time
2021 hopes to be the Year of the Receiver for the New York Giants.
Darnold mea culpa
Sam Darnold was the third pick of the 2018 NFL draft and three years later dangles on a tightrope mixed with underwhelming NFL starters and guys on the cusp of the unemployment line.
Are we ready for September 12th?
MOST EXCITING TIME OF THE YEAR FOR FOOTBALL FANS
