1973 New York Giants season

1973 New York Giants season
Head coachAlex Webster
Home fieldYankee Stadium (2 games),
Yale Bowl (5 games)
Results
Record2–11–1
Division place5th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone
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The 1973 New York Giants season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League (NFL). The season saw the Giants attempting to improve on their 8–6 record from 1972. However, the Giants suffered one of the worst seasons in franchise history, finishing 2–11–1.

The two wins were against the Houston Oilers and the St. Louis Cardinals while the tie was against archrival Philadelphia in week two. That was the last Giants game at Yankee Stadium, which underwent a multi-year renovation, requiring a temporary move to the Yale Bowl in Connecticut.[1] Palmer Stadium at Princeton University in New Jersey had also been considered.[2]

The Giants' two wins in 1973 equaled the second fewest the team had ever posted and it was their worst record since 1966 (1–12–1). To add injury to insult, former quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who was traded after the 1971 season,[3] led the Minnesota Vikings (12–2) to the NFC title; they defeated the Giants 31–7 in the Yale Bowl in the regular season finale.[4]

Fifth-year head coach Alex Webster, a longtime Giant running back, was fired after the season, replaced in mid-January by Bill Arnsparger, the defensive coordinator of the two-time Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins.[5][6]

The Giants were at the Yale Bowl again in 1974, moved to Shea Stadium in 1975 (co-tenant with the Jets, Mets, and Yankees), and to Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1976.

  1. ^ "Giants permitted to use Yale Bowl". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 11, 1973. p. 1, sports.
  2. ^ "Yale insists Hartford keep Giants TV rights". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. March 9, 1973. p. 15.
  3. ^ Lowitt, Bruce (January 28, 1972). "Fran Tarkenton traded to Minnesota". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). p. 16.
  4. ^ Hall, Dan (December 17, 1973). "Grant: Good playoff rehearsal". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. p. 38.
  5. ^ "Giants to announce new coach today". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). Associated Press. January 16, 1974. p. 41.
  6. ^ Rothenberg, Fred (January 17, 1974). "Bill Arnsparger gets Giants job". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. p. 29.