The 1994 New York Giants season was the franchise's 70th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the second under head coach Dan Reeves . The Giants failed to improve on their 11–5 record from 1993 and finished 9–7 in 1994.[ 1] They were second in the National Football Conference East Division , three games behind the Dallas Cowboys .[ 2] [ 3]
In the 1994 NFL draft , the Giants selected wide receiver Thomas Lewis in the first round, with the 24th overall pick.[ 4] New York began the season with a three-game winning streak, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles , Arizona Cardinals , and Washington Redskins . The Giants' first loss came in their fourth game, as the New Orleans Saints defeated them 27–22.[ 5] The next six games were also losses; after the Cardinals beat them 10–9 in week 11, New York's record was 3–7.[ 2] Against the Houston Oilers , the Giants snapped their seven-game losing streak by winning 13–10. The team won its next four games, moving into postseason contention following its second win over Philadelphia. In the final game of the regular season, against the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys, the Giants prevailed by five points, 15–10. They needed a Green Bay loss as well to make the playoffs; the Packers won their last game; ending the Giants' season.[ 5]
Rodney Hampton rushed for 1,075 yards and six touchdowns during the season;[ 2] he was seventh in the NFL in rushing yards in 1994.[ 6] The Giants' leading receiver statistically was Mike Sherrard , who caught 53 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns. Dave Brown started 15 of 16 games at quarterback, and threw 12 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. Defensively, Keith Hamilton and Erik Howard each had 6.5 sacks to lead the Giants, while John Booty and Phillippi Sparks each had a team-high three interceptions.[ 2]
The Giants went through some roster changes after the 1993 season in free agency. Among the departures were Bart Oates , who was signed by the San Francisco 49ers ;[ 7] Mark Collins , who the Kansas City Chiefs signed;[ 8] Myron Guyton , who joined former coach Bill Parcells with the New England Patriots ;[ 9] and Perry Williams , who signed with the New York Jets .[ 10] Simms started all 16 games in 1993, being one of only seven quarterbacks to do so,[ 11] and was named a member of the Pro Bowl team for his performance, having led the Giants to an 11–5 season that included a victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs.[ 12] However, Simms underwent shoulder surgery after the 1993 season to repair a torn labrum. The surgery was successful, and team doctor Russell F. Warren's prognosis for recovery was excellent. Simms was expected to be ready in time for training camp.[ 13] However, later during that offseason, Simms was released by the Giants, and subsequently decided to retire.[ 14]
[ 15]
1994 New York Giants staff
Front office
President/co-chief executive officer – Wellington Mara
Chairman/co-chief executive officer – Preston Robert Tisch
Executive vice president/general counsel – John Mara
Vice president/general manager – George Young
Assistant general manager – Harry Hulmes
Director of player personnel – Tom Boisture
Director of pro personnel – Tim Rooney
Assistant director of player personnel – Rick Donohue
Director of college scouting – Jerry Shay
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – Al Miller
Asst. strength and conditioning – Kerry Goode
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
PHI – Eddie Murray 39-yard field goal, 11:39. Giants 21–13 .
NYG – Dave Meggett 26-yard run (David Treadwell kick), 4:05. Giants 28–13 .
Fourth quarter
PHI – Eddie Murray 36-yard field goal, 12:09. Giants 28–16 .
PHI – Calvin Williams 10-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Eddie Murray kick), 1:19. Giants 28–23 .
Top passers
PHI – Randall Cunningham – 20/39, 344 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Dave Brown – 10/20, 171 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
PHI – Randall Cunningham – 5 rushes, 35 yards
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 21 rushes, 85 yards, TD
Top receivers
PHI – Herschel Walker – 1 reception, 93 yards
NYG – Chris Calloway – 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
ARI – Fred McAfee 2-yard run (Greg Davis kick), 14:57. Cardinals 10–6 .
NYG – Rodney Hampton 3-yard run (David Treadwell kick), 8:53. Giants 13–10 .
NYG – Howard Cross 1-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 0:15. Giants 20–10 .
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 11/17, 119 yards, 2 TD, INT
ARI – Steve Beuerlein – 10/22, 108 yards, INT
Top rushers
NYG – Dave Meggett – 15 rushes, 44 yards
ARI – Ronald Moore – 10 rushes, 25 yards
Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins
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Week 3: Washington Redskins at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Redskins
3
17
0 3 23
Giants
10
7
7 7 31
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : September 18Game time : 4:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : Scattered clouds, 70 °F (21 °C)Game attendance : 77,298Referee : Howard RoeTV announcers (Fox) : Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
WAS – Henry Ellard 3-yard pass from John Friesz (Chip Lohmiller kick), 9:42. Tied 10–10 .
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 41-yard field goal, 7:22. Redskins 13–10 .
NYG – Mike Sherrard 30-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 4:14. Giants 17–13 .
WAS – Ethan Horton 3-yard pass from John Friesz (Chip Lohmiller kick), 1:08. Redskins 20–17 .
Third quarter
NYG – Aaron Pierce 16-yard pass from Dave Meggett (David Treadwell kick), 11:40. Giants 24–20 .
Fourth quarter
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 35-yard field goal, 13:08. Giants 24–23 .
NYG – Dave Meggett 1-yard run (David Treadwell kick), 7:09. Giants 31–23 .
Top passers
WAS – John Friesz – 32/50, 381 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
NYG – Dave Brown – 14/19, 221 yards, TD
Top rushers
WAS – Reggie Brooks – 13 rushes, 57 yards
NYG – Dave Meggett – 26 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
WAS – Henry Ellard – 10 receptions, 197 yards, TD
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 3 receptions, 71 yards, TD
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Mike Sherrard 10-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 7:50. Giants 10–3 .
NYG – David Treadwell 32-yard field goal, 5:07. Giants 13–3 .
NO – Quinn Early 4-yard pass from Jim Everett (Morten Andersen kick), 1:56. Giants 13–10 .
NO – James Williams 33-yard interception return (Morten Andersen kick), 1:00. Saints 17–13.
Third quarter
NO – Morten Andersen 32-yard field goal, 10:37. Saints 20–13 .
Fourth quarter
NO – Derek Brown 3-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 13:35. Saints 27–13 .
NYG – David Treadwell 35-yard field goal, 8:02. Saints 27–16 .
NYG – Mike Sherrard 3-yard pass from Dave Brown (run failed), 2:04. Saints 27–22 .
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 20/35, 180 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
NO – Jim Everett – 20/30, 249 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
NYG – Dave Meggett – 16 rushes, 40 yards
NO – Derek Brown – 22 rushes, 64 yards, TD
Top receivers
Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings
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Week 6: Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
3
7
14 3 27
Giants
0
10
0 0 10
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game information
First quarter
MIN – Fuad Reveiz 44-yard field goal, 3:42. Vikings 3–0 .
Second quarter
NYG – David Treadwell 22-yard field goal, 13:36. Tied 3–3 .
MIN – Terry Allen 1-yard run (Fuad Reveiz kick), 5:31. Vikings 10–3 .
NYG – Dave Brown 3-yard run (David Treadwell kick), 0:07. Tied 10–10 .
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
MIN – Fuad Reveiz 24-yard field goal, 13:20. Vikings 27–10 .
Top passers
MIN – Warren Moon – 23/34, 299 yards, TD, INT
NYG – Dave Brown – 19/36, 226 yards, 3 INT
Top rushers
MIN – Terry Allen – 21 rushes, 75 yards, TD
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 13 rushes, 27 yards
Top receivers
Week 7: at Los Angeles Rams
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – David Treadwell 24-yard field goal, 9:44. Rams 14–10 .
LA – Tony Zendejas 22-yard field goal, 3:22. Rams 17–10 .
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 15/27, 165 yards, 2 INT
LA – Chris Miller – 13/26, 197 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 27 rushes, 112 yards, TD
LA – Jerome Bettis – 30 rushes, 88 yards
Top receivers
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 4 receptions, 66 yards
LA – Jerome Bettis – 3 receptions, 62 yards
Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Steelers
0
3
0 7 10
Giants
3
3
0 0 6
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
PIT – Bam Morris 6-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 8:17. Steelers 10–6 .
Top passers
Top rushers
PIT – Bam Morris – 29 rushes, 146 yards, TD
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 18 rushes, 34 yards
Top receivers
Week 9: vs. Detroit Lions
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Week 9: Detroit Lions at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Lions
2
6
10 7 3 28
Giants
0
10
0 15 0 25
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : October 30Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)Game attendance : 75,124Referee : Gary Lane TV announcers (Fox) : Pat Summerall, John Madden and Anthony Muñoz
Game information
First quarter
DET – Dave Brown fumble out of bounds in end zone for a safety, 5:30. Lions 2–0 .
Second quarter
Third quarter
DET – Jason Hanson 31-yard field goal, 8:13. Lions 11–10 .
DET – Mike Johnson 48-yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick), 3:44. Lions 18–10.
Fourth quarter
NYG – Dave Meggett 56-yard punt return (Hampton run), 11:07. Tied 18–18.
DET – Herman Moore 1-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (Jason Hanson kick), 8:48. Lions 25–18 .
NYG – Aaron Pierce 7-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 1:15. Tied 25–25 .
Overtime
DET – Jason Hanson 24-yard field goal, 8:17. Lions 28–25 .
Top passers
DET – Scott Mitchell – 16/30, 180 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
NYG – Dave Brown – 19/29, 159 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
DET – Barry Sanders – 26 rushes, 146 yards
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 30 rushes, 138 yards, TD
Top receivers
DET – Herman Moore – 9 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Aaron Pierce – 5 receptions, 49 yards, TD
Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
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Week 10: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
0
3
0 7 10
Cowboys
0
14
21 3 38
at Texas Stadium , Irving, Texas
Date : November 7Game time : 9:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Scattered clouds, 60 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 64,836Referee : Johnny Grier TV announcers (ABC) : Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Chris Boniol kick), 12:29. Cowboys 21–3 .
DAL – Troy Aikman 3-yard run (Chris Boniol kick), 5:02. Cowboys 28–3 .
DAL – Daryl Johnston 9-yard run (Chris Boniol kick), 0:29. Cowboys 35–3 .
Fourth quarter
DAL – Chris Boniol 45-yard field goal, 11:12. Cowboys 38–3 .
NYG – Howard Cross 9-yard pass from Kent Graham (David Treadwell kick), 5:46. Cowboys 38–10 .
Top passers
NYG – Kent Graham – 9/14, 98 yards, TD, INT
DAL – Troy Aikman – 19/24, 241 yards, TD
Top rushers
NYG – Gary Downs – 7 rushes, 28 yards
DAL – Emmitt Smith – 35 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
NYG – Howard Cross – 5 receptions, 44 yards, TD
DAL – Michael Irvin – 7 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals
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Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
0
3 7 10
Giants
7
2
0 0 9
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : November 13Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Cloudy, 52 °F (11 °C)Game attendance : 71,719Referee : Bob McElwee TV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck and Tim Green
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Holding penalty on Ernest Dye enforced in endzone for a safety, 3:15. Giants 9–0.
Third quarter
ARI – Greg Davis 45-yard field goal, 5:08. Giants 9–3 .
Fourth quarter
Top passers
ARI – Steve Beuerlein – 17/33, 180 yards, TD, INT
NYG – Kent Graham – 9/26, 92 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: at Houston Oilers
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Week 12: New York Giants at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
0
0
7 6 13
Oilers
0
0
7 3 10
at Houston Astrodome , Houston, Texas
Date : November 21Game time : 9:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : None (indoor stadium)Game attendance : 53,201Referee : Dick Hantak TV announcers (ABC) : Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NYG – David Treadwell 26-yard field goal, 8:19. Giants 10–7 .
HOU – Al Del Greco 43-yard field goal, 4:08. Tied 10–10 .
NYG – David Treadwell 37-yard field goal, 0:02. Giants 13–10 .
Top passers
NYG – Kent Graham – 6/13, 105 yards, TD
HOU – Billy Joe Tolliver – 10/15, 119 yards
Top rushers
Top receivers
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 6 receptions, 109 yards, TD
HOU – Lorenzo White – 2 receptions, 49 yards
Week 13: at Washington Redskins
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Week 13: New York Giants at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
7
7
7 0 21
Redskins
3
6
3 7 19
at RFK Stadium , Washington, D.C.
Date : November 27Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Light rain, 39 °F (4 °C)Game attendance : 43,384Referee : Tom WhiteTV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck and Tim Green
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 29-yard field goal, 10:40. Giants 7–6 .
NYG – Chris Calloway 34-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 1:52. Giants 14–6 .
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 29-yard field goal, 0:21. Giants 14–9 .
Third quarter
NYG – Mike Sherrard 6-yard pass from Dave Brown (David Treadwell kick), 10:19. Giants 21–9 .
WAS – Chip Lohmiller 46-yard field goal, 7:34. Giants 21–12 .
Fourth quarter
WAS – Martin Bayless 60-yard fumble return (Chip Lohmiller kick), 4:44. Giants 21–19.
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 10/17, 161 yards, 2 TD
WAS – Heath Shuler – 11/28, 165 yards, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
NYG – Chris Calloway – 2 receptions, 47 yards, TD
WAS – Henry Ellard – 4 receptions, 81 yards
Week 14: at Cleveland Browns
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Week 14: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
7
0
3 6 16
Browns
3
3
0 7 13
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium , Cleveland, Ohio
Date : December 4Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Overcast, 56 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 72,068Referee : Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers (Fox) : Kevin Harlan and Jerry Glanville
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CLE – Matt Stover 23-yard field goal, 12:06. Giants 7–6 .
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NYG – Brad Daluiso 30-yard field goal, 8:15. Giants 13–6 .
CLE – Leroy Hoard 5-yard run (Matt Stover kick), 4:24. Tied 13–13 .
NYG – Brad Daluiso 33-yard field goal, 0:19. Giants 16–13 .
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 17/33, 226 yards, TD, INT
CLE – Vinny Testaverde – 20/38, 238 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 23 rushes, 77 yards
CLE – Leroy Hoard – 11 rushes, 45 yards, TD
Top receivers
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 5 receptions, 101 yards
CLE – Derrick Alexander – 7 receptions, 171 yards
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
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Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bengals
0
7
3 10 20
Giants
0
17
3 7 27
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : December 11Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Cloudy, 45 °F (7 °C)Game attendance : 67,530Referee : Dale Hamer TV announcers (NBC) : Marv Albert and Paul Maguire
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
CIN – Doug Pelfrey 38-yard field goal, 10:16. Giants 17–10 .
NYG – Brad Daluiso 33-yard field goal, 4:58. Giants 20–10 .
Fourth quarter
CIN – Carl Pickens 3-yard pass from Jeff Blake (Doug Pelfrey kick), 9:23. Giants 20–17 .
CIN – Doug Pelfrey 23-yard field goal, 1:47. Tied 20–20 .
NYG – Rodney Hampton 3-yard run (Brad Daluiso kick), 0:40. Giants 27–20 .
Top passers
CIN – Jeff Blake – 17/37, 200 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Dave Brown – 16/26, 222 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
CIN – Steve Broussard – 13 rushes, 46 yards
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 23 rushes, 76 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
CIN – Carl Pickens – 7 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 4 receptions, 75 yards
Week 16: at Philadelphia Eagles
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Week 16: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
0
3
3 10 16
Eagles
7
3
3 0 13
at Veterans Stadium , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date : December 18Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Partly sunny, 44 °F (7 °C)Game attendance : 64,540Referee : Gordon McCarterTV announcers (Fox) : Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
PHI – Eddie Murray 32-yard field goal, 5:13. Eagles 10–0 .
NYG – Brad Daluiso 47-yard field goal, 0:04. Eagles 10–3 .
Third quarter
PHI – Eddie Murray 42-yard field goal, 10:05. Eagles 13–3 .
NYG – Brad Daluiso 19-yard field goal, 1:56. Eagles 13–6 .
Fourth quarter
NYG – Dave Meggett 5-yard run (Brad Daluiso kick), 3:54. Tied 13–13 .
NYG – Brad Daluiso 18-yard field goal, 0:54. Giants 16–13 .
Top passers
NYG – Dave Brown – 18/27, 264 yards, INT
PHI – Bubby Brister – 25/39, 182 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 5 receptions, 81 yards
PHI – Mark Bavaro – 2 receptions, 45 yards, TD
Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys
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Week 17: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
3
0
7 0 10
Giants
0
10
2 3 15
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : December 24Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Overcast, 46 °F (8 °C)Game attendance : 66,943Referee : Gerry Austin TV announcers (Fox) : Pat Summerall and John Madden
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DAL – Blair Thomas 1-yard run (Chris Boniol kick), 11:01. Tied 10–10 .
NYG – Rodney Peete fumble out of bounds in end zone for a safety, 4:37. Giants 12–10 .
Fourth quarter
NYG – Brad Daluiso 30-yard field goal, 13:55. Giants 15–10 .
Top passers
DAL – Troy Aikman – 9/11, 62 yards
NYG – Dave Brown – 11/19, 141 yards, TD
Top rushers
DAL – Blair Thomas – 18 rushes, 63 yards, TD
NYG – Rodney Hampton – 26 rushes, 91 yards
Top receivers
DAL – Jay Novacek – 4 receptions, 38 yards
NYG – Mike Sherrard – 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD
^ "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia" . Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 8, 2019 .
^ a b c d "1994 New York Giants" . Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009 .
^ "1994 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics" . Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2022 .
^ "History: 1994 – Round 1" . National Football League. Retrieved October 23, 2016 .
^ a b Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants . Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 276. ISBN 1-57243-641-7 .
^ "1994 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards" . Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2016 .
^ "Bart Oates Takes Big Pay Cut to Leave N.Y. and Play Center for San Francisco" . Deseret News . Associated Press. July 16, 1994. Retrieved January 7, 2023 .
^ "Chiefs sign Collins, a defensive back" . United Press International. April 26, 1994. Retrieved January 7, 2023 .
^ "Patriots sign free agent Myron Guyton" . United Press International. February 28, 1994. Retrieved January 7, 2023 .
^ Smith, Timothy W. (June 1, 1994). "Pro Football; Perry Williams Joins the Jets" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 7, 2023 .
^ "1993 NFL Passing" . Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 8, 2023 .
^ Whittingham, p. 275.
^ "Pro Football; Simms's Surgery Goes Well" . The New York Times . March 2, 1994. Retrieved February 8, 2023 .
^ Fennelly, John (February 9, 2021). "Retired Giants QB Phil Simms once considered a comeback with Bill Belichick" . USA Today . Retrieved February 8, 2023 .
^ "New York Giants NFL Draft History" . National Football League. Retrieved April 2, 2010 .