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1956 New York Giants season
1956 New York Giants season
Owner	Tim Mara
Head coach	Jim Lee Howell
Home field	Yankee Stadium
Results
Record	8–3–1
Division place	1st NFL Eastern
Playoff finish	Won NFL Championship; (vs. Bears) 47–7
	← 1955; Giants seasons; 1957 →;

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

Through the 1955 season, the Giants played their home games at the Polo Grounds. Their first game at Yankee Stadium was on October 21 against the Pittsburgh Steelers,^[2]^[3] and the attendance was 48,108.^[4]^[5]

Schedule

Game	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	Sources
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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	17	7	7	7	38
49ers	0	7	7	7	21

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

NYG Mel Triplett 35-yard pass from Heinrich (Gifford kick). Giants 24-0.
SF Hugh McElhenny 16-yard run (Gordie Soltau kick). Giants 24-7.

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	6	7	0	14	27
Cardinals	0	14	14	7	35

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

CHC Don Stonesifer 58-yard pass from McHan (Summerall kick)
CHC Gern Nagler 17-yard pass from McHan (Summerall kick)

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	7	7	7	21
Browns	0	7	0	2	9

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Date: October 14
Game attendance: 60,042

Game information

Second quarter

NYG Webster 2-yard pass from Heinrich (Gifford kick)
CLE Ed Modzelewski 1-yard run (Lou Groza kick)

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	0	0	7	10
Giants	0	17	14	7	38

at Yankee Stadium, New York City

Date: October 21
Game attendance: 48,108

Game information

First quarter

PIT Gary Glick 35-yard FG

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

PIT Elbie Nickel 14-yard pass from Ted Marchibroda (Glick kick)
NYG Gene Filipski 35-yard run (Agajanian kick)

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Five: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	0	0	0	3
Giants	3	10	7	0	20

at Yankee Stadium, New York

Date: October 28
Game attendance: 40,960

Game information

First quarter

PHI Bobby Walston 15-yard FG
NYG Agajanian 20-yard FG

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	7	3	7	0	17
Steelers	0	0	7	7	14

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	3	0	7	10
Giants	2	7	7	7	23

at Yankee Stadium, New York

Date: November 11
Game attendance: 62,410

Game information

First quarter

NYG Andy Robustelli tackled Dave Mann in end zone for a Safety

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	0	7	0	7
Redskins	7	17	3	6	33

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

WAS Steve Meilinger 51-yard pass from Dorow (kick failed)

Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Nine: Chicago Bears at New York Giants

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	3	14	17
Giants	3	7	7	0	17

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

CHB Harlon Hill 79-yard pass from Bill McColl (Blanda kick)
CHB Hill 56-yard pass from Ed Brown (Blanda kick)

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Ten: Washington Redskins at New York Giants

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	7	0	0	7	14
Giants	14	0	7	7	28

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	7	10	7	0	24
Giants	0	7	0	0	7

at Yankee Stadium, New York

Date: December 9
Game attendance: 27,707

Game information

First quarter

CLE Tommy O'Connell 1-yard run (Groza kick)

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	14	7	0	21
Eagles	0	0	0	7	7

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
view talk edit	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 Western Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Chicago Bears	9	2	1	.818	8–2	363	246	W2
Detroit Lions	9	3	0	.750	8–2	300	188	L1
San Francisco 49ers	5	6	1	.455	5–5	233	284	W3
Baltimore Colts	5	7	0	.417	3–7	270	322	W1
Los Angeles Rams	4	8	0	.333	3–7	291	307	W2
Green Bay Packers	4	8	0	.333	3–7	264	342	L2

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

NFL Championship Game

1956 NFL Championship: Chicago Bears at New York Giants

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	7	0	0	7
Giants	13	21	6	7	47

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

CHI - George Blanda - 12/27, 140 yards, 1 INT
NYG - Charlie Conerly - 7/10, 195 yards, 2 TD

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

References

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

Giants on Pro Football Reference

External links

1956 New York Giants at Pro-Football-Reference.com
New York Giants official website—history section

Preceded by Cleveland Browns 1955	NFL champion 1956	Succeeded by Detroit Lions 1957

[1] Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.10, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6

[gothswst-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

[wcpfthtd-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

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

1956 New York Giants season

Transactions

Regular season

Schedule

Postseason

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 2: at Chicago Cardinals

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 7: vs. Chicago Cardinals

Week 8: at Washington Redskins

Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

Week 11: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles

Standings

NFL Championship Game

Awards and honors

See also

References

External links