The 1970 New York Giants

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EPISODE SUMMARY

Alex Webster took over as head coach in 1969, and the team had finished the season strong, winning their last three games. But hope faded quickly when the Giants lost their first three games in 1970, with two of those losses coming to bad teams, the Saints and Bears.

But, suddenly, the team got hot, winning six games in a row. Two wins came against good teams, the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals and the eventual NFC Champ Cowboys.

The Giants’ Jeckyl and Hyde season continued. Losing to bad teams and then winning against good ones became the storyline. The Giants reverted to their old ways with another bad loss to the lowly Eagles.

It was hard to figure out, too. The Giants had plenty of talented players with Fran Tarkenton at quarterback, rookie Bob Tucker at tight end, Fred Dryer at defensive end, Carl “Spider” Lockhart at safety, and Pete Gogolak at kicker. They also had one of the best running backs in football in the person of Ron Johnson, who came to the Giants in an off-season trade with the Browns. Johnson spent his 1969 rookie season playing second fiddle to future Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly. Johnson rushed for 142 yards in a Week Four win over the Eagles, and he had a 200-yard day against the Cowboys–136 yards on the ground and 59 yards through the air.

You can read the full blog post here.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)