The New York Giants are counting down the days until the start of their 2025 season, with 16 days remaining before they face the Washington Commanders. As part of a daily feature, attention has turned to former players who wore No. 16 in regular season games.
Among several past Giants who wore the number, Frank Gifford stands out as the most prominent. Gifford played for the team from 1952 through 1964 and was recognized as one of its most versatile athletes. He became the first National Football League player to be selected to the Pro Bowl at two different positions in consecutive years—first as a defensive back in 1953 and then as an offensive back in 1954.
Gifford temporarily retired after the 1960 season due to injury but returned in 1962 to play as a flanker for two more seasons. He left football for broadcasting after retiring in 1964, joining Monday Night Football and CBS.
Over his twelve-year career with the Giants, Gifford appeared in 136 games with 129 starts, recording 3,609 rushing yards on 840 carries and scoring thirty-four touchdowns. He also made three hundred sixty-seven receptions for five thousand four hundred thirty-four yards and forty-three receiving touchdowns. In his standout year of 1956, he posted a career-high one thousand four hundred twenty-two scrimmage yards—the first of three seasons surpassing one thousand all-purpose yards.
That same year, Gifford was named Most Valuable Player by United Press International and Newspaper Enterprise Association when the Giants won the National Football League Championship. His honors include eight Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro nods, inclusion on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-1950s Team, and recognition as Sporting News Player of the Year in 1956.
Wellington Mara served as presenter when Gifford was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nineteen seventy-seven.
The Giants have since retired No. sixteen to honor Gifford’s contributions to the team.
Last year, he was listed at No. four on the Top One Hundred all-time New York Giants anniversary team.
