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When recalling the great defenses of the New York Giants back in the Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick era, the first name that rolls off the tongue is their legendary linebacker, Lawrence Taylor.
Other players who get recognition are Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson and dominating defensive end Leonard Marshall.
Carl Banks? He was good, too. Correction: Banks was better than good.
The low-key Banks, the third overall selection by the Giants in the 1984 NFL draft, was one of the best outside linebackers of his era. To this day, many NFL historians and former players recount just how good Banks was in Taylor’s shadow.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Baldy once told me that Banks was one of the best OLB’s against the run he played against and that teams game planned to run away from him. Yes, even with LT on other side.
— The Giant Insider Podcast and Newspaper (@GiantInsider) February 11, 2025
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The “Baldy” being referred to here is Brian Baldinger, a former offensive lineman who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Baldinger, now an NFL Network analyst, is well-respected for his analysis and, as a contemporary of his, can confidently say his first-hand accounts of Banks’ play are dead-on.
Banks, now a game day radio voice during Giants games along with Bob Papa, has garnered many an accolade over the years.
Papa tweeted out that the great Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz once told him that Banks “told me the same” thing about Banks that Baldinger had claimed regarding teams running away from Banks.
1987: The best pair of OLB in the NFL in the 80s was @LT_56 & @CarlBanksGIII. They both made the Pro Bowl & named All Pro in 1987. Banks stuffed Herschel to tackle Dorsett for a loss & 3 plays later LT snagged a pick out of nowhere. LT then got a sack/fumble at Dallas #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/nPxiNSjipP
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) February 11, 2025
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Banks is a member of the Giants Ring of Honor and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s. He was an All-Pro selection in 1987.
Banks was a legend in college at Michigan State where he was a three-time All-Big Ten selection. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Banks was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.