1956 New York Giants season

NFL team season

NY Giants team

The 1956 New York Giants season was the franchise's 32nd season in the National Football League. After finishing with an 8–3–1 record, the Giants won their fourth league title by defeating the Chicago Bears 47–7 in the NFL championship game. It was their first NFL title in eighteen years; the Giants did not win another until the 1986 season .

Transactions

  • July 27, 1956: Andy Robustelli was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Giants in exchange for New York's first round selection in the next NFL draft on November 26.[1] The Rams used that pick, the eleventh overall, to select receiver Del Shofner of Baylor.

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 30 at San Francisco 49ers W 38–21 1–0 Kezar Stadium 41,751 Recap
2 October 7 at Chicago Cardinals L 27–35 1–1 Comiskey Park 21,799 Recap
3 October 14 at Cleveland Browns W 21–9 2–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 60,042 Recap
4 October 21 Pittsburgh Steelers W 38–10 3–1 Yankee Stadium 48,108 Recap
5 October 28 Philadelphia Eagles W 20–3 4–1 Yankee Stadium 40,960 Recap
6 November 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–14 5–1 Forbes Field 31,240 Recap
7 November 11 Chicago Cardinals W 23–10 6–1 Yankee Stadium 62,410 Recap
8 November 18 at Washington Redskins L 7–33 6–2 Griffith Stadium 26,261 Recap
9 November 25 Chicago Bears T 17–17 6–2–1 Yankee Stadium 55,191 Recap
10 December 2 Washington Redskins W 28–14 7–2–1 Yankee Stadium 26,261 Recap
11 December 9 Cleveland Browns L 7–24 7–3–1 Yankee Stadium 27,707 Recap
12 December 15 at Philadelphia Eagles W 21–7 8–3–1 Connie Mack Stadium 16,562 Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Postseason

Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Championship December 30 Chicago Bears Yankee Stadium W 47–7 56,836 Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

Week One: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 17 7 7738
49ers 0 7 7721

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

  • Date: September 30
  • Game attendance: 41,751
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Alex Webster 43-yard pass from Don Heinrich (Frank Gifford kick). Giants 7-0.
  • NYG Gifford 59-yard run (Gifford kick). Giants 14-0.
  • NYG Gifford 17-yard FG. Giants 17-0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Triplett 1-yard run (Gifford kick). Giants 31-7.
  • SF Billy Wilson 33-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Soltau kick). Giants 31-14.
Fourth quarter
  • SF McElhenny 2-yard run (Soltau kick). Giants 31-21.
  • NYG Triplett 13-yard run (Don Chandler kick). Giants 38-21.
Top passers
  • NYG - Don Heinrich - 7/10, 121 yards, 2 TD
  • SF - Y.A. Tittle - 25/40, 259 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
  • NYG - Frank Gifford - 8 rushes, 85 yards, 1 TD
  • SF - Hugh McElhenny - 13 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
  • NYG - Alex Webster - 3 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD
  • SF - Dicky Moegle - 3 receptions, 79 yards

Week 2: at Chicago Cardinals

Week Two: New York Giants at Chicago Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 6 7 01427
Cardinals 0 14 14735

at Comiskey Park, Chicago

  • Date: October 7
  • Game attendance: 21,799
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Triplett 2-yard run (kick failed)
Second quarter
  • CHC Lamar McHan 2-yard run (Pat Summerall kick)
  • NYG Triplett 2-yard run (Gifford kick)
  • CHC Night Train Lane 66-yard interception return (Summerall kick)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • CHC McHan 13-yard run (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Triplett 1-yard run (Gifford kick)
  • NYG Ken MacAfee 4-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Gifford kick)

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

Week Three: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 7 7721
Browns 0 7 029

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: October 14
  • Game attendance: 60,042
Game information
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Chandler kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Webster 34-yard run (Chandler kick)
  • CLE Junior Wren tackled Conerly in end zone for a Safety

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Four: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 0 0710
Giants 0 17 14738

at Yankee Stadium, New York City

  • Date: October 21
  • Game attendance: 48,108
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG MacAfee 14-yard pass from Conerly (Ben Agajanian kick)
  • NYG Webster 21-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
  • NYG Agajanian 14-yard FG
Third quarter
  • NYG Gifford 1-yard run (Agajanian kick)
  • NYG Kyle Rote 19-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Five: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles 3 0 003
Giants 3 10 7020

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: October 28
  • Game attendance: 40,960
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Agajanian 39-yard FG
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Agajanian kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Gifford 20-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)

Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Six: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 3 7017
Steelers 0 0 7714

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 4
  • Game attendance: 31,240
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Agajanian kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Agajanian 32-yard FG
Third quarter
  • PIT Sid Watson 1-yard run (Glick kick)
  • NYG Rote 3-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter
  • PIT Watson 6-yard run (Glick kick)

Week 7: vs. Chicago Cardinals

Week Seven: Chicago Cardinals at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 3 0710
Giants 2 7 7723

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: November 11
  • Game attendance: 62,410
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG MacAfee 6-yard pass from Heinrich (Agajanian kick)
  • CHC Summerall 30-yard FG
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 12-yard run (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 11-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
  • CHC Ollie Matson 11-yard pass from Jim Root (Summerall kick)

Week 8: at Washington Redskins

Week Eight: New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 0 707
Redskins 7 17 3633

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Date: November 18
  • Game attendance: 26,261
Game information
First quarter
  • WAS Billy Wells 15-yard run (Sam Baker kick)
Second quarter
  • WAS Johnny Carson 7-yard pass from Al Dorow (Baker kick)
  • WAS Baker 49-yard FG
  • WAS Wells recovered fumble in end zone (Baker kick)
Third quarter
  • WAS Baker 28-yard FG
  • NYG Bob Schnelker 12-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter

Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Nine: Chicago Bears at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 0 31417
Giants 3 7 7017

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: November 25
  • Game attendance: 56,836
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Agajanian 17-yard FG
Second quarter
  • NYG Rote 17-yard pass from Heinrich (Agajanian kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 2-yard run (Agajanian kick)
  • CHB George Blanda 22-yard FG
Fourth quarter

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Ten: Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 7 0 0714
Giants 14 0 7728

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: December 2
  • Game attendance: 46,361
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG MacAfee 29-yard pass from Gifford (Agajanian kick)
  • NYG Gifford 6-yard run (Agajanian kick)
  • WAS Meilinger 6-yard pass from Dorow (Baker kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Gifford 14-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 11-yard run (Agajanian kick)
  • WAS John Paluck 76-yard fumble return (Baker kick)

Week 11: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Eleven: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 10 7024
Giants 0 7 007

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: December 9
  • Game attendance: 27,707
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Gifford 6-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
  • CLE Groza 41-yard FG
  • CLE Curly Morrison 6-yard pass from O'Connell (Groza kick)
Third quarter
  • CLE O'Connell 1-yard run (Groza kick)

Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week Twelve: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 14 7021
Eagles 0 0 077

at Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia

  • Date: December 15
  • Game attendance: 15,562
Game information
Second quarter
  • NYG Rote 6-yard pass from Gifford (Agajanian kick)
  • NYG Gifford 10-yard run (Agajanian kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 7-yard run (Agajanian kick)
Fourth quarter
  • PHI Walston 15-yard pass from Adrian Burk (Walston kick)

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
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 W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
New York Giants 8 3 1 .727 7–3 264 197 W1
Chicago Cardinals 7 5 0 .583 7–3 240 182 W1
Washington Redskins 6 6 0 .500 5–5 183 225 L2
Cleveland Browns 5 7 0 .417 4–6 167 177 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 7 0 .417 4–6 217 250 W1
Philadelphia Eagles 3 8 1 .273 3–7 143 215 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL Championship Game

1956 NFL Championship: Chicago Bears at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 7 007
Giants 13 21 6747

at Yankee Stadium, New York

  • Date: December 30
  • Game attendance: 56,836
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Triplett 17-yard run (Agajanian kick). Giants 7-0.
  • NYG Agajanian 17-yard FG. Giants 10-0.
  • NYG Agajanian 43-yard FG. Giants 13-0.
Second quarter
  • NYG Webster 3-yard run (Agajanian kick). Giants 20-0.
  • CHB Rick Casares 9-yard run (Blanda kick). Giants 20-7.
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Agajanian kick). Giants 27-7.
  • NYG Henry Moore recovered blocked punt in end zone (Agajanian kick). Giants 34-7.
Third quarter
  • NYG Rote 9-yard pass from Conerly (kick failed). Giants 40-7.
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 14-yard pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick). Giants 47-7.
Top passers
Top rushers
  • CHI - Rick Casares - 14 rushes, 43 yards, 1 TD
  • NYG - Mel Triplett - 13 rushes, 71 yards, 1 TD
Top receivers
  • CHI - Harlon Hill - 6 receptions, 87 yards
  • NYG - Frank Gifford - 4 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD

Awards and honors

  • Rosey Brown, All-Pro selection
  • Sam Huff, All-Pro selection
  • Sam Huff, Rookie of the Year
  • Frank Gifford, NFL MVP
  • Frank Gifford, All-Pro selection
  • Frank Gifford ranked fifth in the league with 819 rushing yards, first with 5.2 yards per carry, and third in receiving with 51 catches for 603 yards. No other player had reached the Top 5 in all of these categories before Gifford.[6]
  • Rosey Grier, All-Pro selection
  • Andy Robustelli, All-Pro selection
  • Emlen Tunnell, All-Pro selection

See also

References

  1. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.10, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  2. ^ Sell, Jack (October 20, 1956). "Giants open their home season". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 14.
  3. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.68, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  4. ^ Sell, Jack (October 22, 1956). "48,198 watch Conerly pass for 3 Giant touchdowns". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 26.
  5. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.70, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  6. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.120, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  • Giants on Pro Football Reference

External links

  • New York Giants official website—history section
Preceded by NFL champion
1956 		Succeeded by
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