The choice for the 1980s is as clear as it gets. It begins and ends with Lawrence Taylor.
When the Giants selected Taylor with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft, the franchise was coming off one of the bleakest stretches in its history. The 1970s had left the Giants searching for identity, consistency, and relevance.
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Taylor changed all of that the moment he stepped on the field.
From his rookie season in 1981, Taylor didn’t just make an impact; he redefined what defensive football could look like. He was faster than offensive linemen, stronger than tight ends, and relentless in pursuit of quarterbacks.
That first season alone told the story. Taylor was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, an almost unheard-of combination that immediately established him as the most dominant defensive force in the league.
That was only the beginning.
Throughout the decade, Taylor became the centerpiece of the Giants’ feared defense — the unit that would come to be known as the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew.” By the mid-1980s, New York wasn’t just competitive again; it was dominant.
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The defining season of Taylor’s career came in 1986.
That year, he delivered one of the most remarkable defensive performances the NFL has ever seen. Taylor recorded 20.5 sacks, led the league, and completely disrupted opposing offenses week after week. His dominance was so overwhelming that he was named NFL Most Valuable Player — a rare honor for a defensive player, and the last player to this day, on his side of the ball, to win the award.
He also earned his third Defensive Player of the Year award that season, having previously won it in 1981 and 1982.
Most importantly, Taylor helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl title, defeating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI and cementing the team’s place among the NFL’s elite.
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He later added a second championship ring in Super Bowl XXV, further solidifying the Giants’ dominance during the era.
New York Giants Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks carry head coach Bill Parcells off the field after the Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV.
Taylor’s list of accomplishments reads less like a resume and more like a standard that no defensive player has ever quite matched.
He was named First-Team All-Pro eight times, including six straight seasons from 1981 through 1986, and added two more selections in 1988 and 1989. Even in years he wasn’t First-Team, he still earned Second-Team All-Pro honors, showing just how consistently elite he remained.
Taylor was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons, from 1981 through 1990, a decade-long run of dominance that defined the position.
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He led the NFL in sacks in 1986 and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s. In the years since, his legacy has only grown, earning him a place on both the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
Statistically, Taylor’s career is just as impressive.
He recorded 1,088 tackles, 142 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, nine interceptions, and scored two defensive touchdowns. But even those numbers don’t fully capture his impact.
Taylor didn’t just make plays; he changed how offenses operated. Teams had to redesign protections, adjust blocking schemes, and account for him on every single snap. His presence alone altered the game.
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Left tackles today can thank No. 56 for why they are highly paid.
The Giants have long recognized what Taylor meant to the franchise.
His No. 56 jersey has been retired, and his name sits prominently in the Giants Ring of Honor. To this day, he is widely regarded not only as the greatest player in franchise history, but by many as the greatest defensive player the NFL has ever seen.
Looking back at the 1980s, there’s no debate to be had.
Lawrence Taylor wasn’t just the Giants’ best first-round pick of the decade; he was the player who transformed the franchise and defined an era of football.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Decade by Decade: New York Giants’ best first-round pick of the 1980s