91. Phil Simms
Simms may have been inconsistent when he began his tenure in the NFL, but something seemed to click in 1984. It wasn’t just the influx of talent to the Giants roster, as it was at this time that Simms became their leader and found ways to win. He wasn’t the quickest or the hardest thrower, but he became a winner and most important he had the belief and trust of his teammates; something that not every Quarterback had. Because of the Giants stellar defense, many have said that Simms only had to manage the game, but those who played with him always praised his high football I.Q. and his leadership skills.
RIP: Frank Gifford
45. Charlie Conerly
Many entries on this list discuss the difficulty of comparing offensive statistics from the 1960s and 1970s to today's inflated numbers. This is even more accurate when looking at the stars of the 1950s. Charlie Conerly, the Quarterback of the New York Giants during the 1950s, was on the final ballot multiple times but dropped off seemingly for good after 1980.
Conerly was the Giants QB throughout the 1950s and consistently ranked near the top annually in touchdown passes and quarterback rating. While those numbers would not be considered huge by today's standards, they were more than acceptable for that era. He was a popular player among fans and teammates and showed flashes of brilliance throughout his career. His overall numbers of 19,486 Passing Yards and a TD-INT ratio of 173-167 and a role in the 1956 NFL Championship is awfully good for his era.
It is likely that had he led the NFL in more offensive categories during his career, he would have had a better shot at enshrinement. Since he was not even chosen as a semi-finalist for the 2020 Centennial Class, it appears that the window for Charlie Conerly to enter Canton may have closed for good.
