When I remember the great defense of the New York Giants back in Bill Palsel and Bill Belichick eras, the name that rolls from the tongue is legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
The other player recognized is Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson, dominating defensive side Leonard Marshall.
Carl Banks? He was good too. Fix: The bank was better than good.
Lowkey Banks, the Giants’ third overall choice in the 1984 NFL Draft, was one of the best external linebackers of his time. To this day, many NFL historians and former players have spoken about how good the bank was in Taylor’s shadow.
I said this before so I’ll say it again. Bardi once told me that Banks was one of the best office ladies for the run he faced, and that the team planned to run away from him. Yes, even if there is an LT on the other side.
– Giant Insider Podcasts and Newspapers (@giantinsider) February 11, 2025
“Baldi” mentioned here is Brian Bardinger, a former offensive lineman who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bill and Philadelphia Eagles in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Baldinger, now an NFL network analyst, is respected for his analysis and, as a modern man, can confidently say that his direct explanation of his bank’s play is dead on.
Banks is the voice of the game day during the Giants’ games and has, along with Bob Daddy, has garnered many accolades over the years.
Daddy has said that Anthony Munoz, an offensive tackle from the Great Hall of Fame, once told him that he had a bankHe told me the same thing“About the bank that Baldinger insists on the team running away from the bank.
1987: The best OLB pair in the NFL in the 80s @lt_56 & @carlbanksgiii. They both made the Pro Bowl and appointed All Pro in 1987. Banks packed Herschel and worked on Dorset for Ross, and three plays later took the pick out of nowhere. After that I got a bag/fumble in Dallas #giants100 pic.twitter.com/npxinsjipp
– bigbluevcr (@bigbluevcr) February 11, 2025
Banks was a member of the Giants Ring of Honor and was named to the NFL All-Denge Team in the 1980s. He was an All-Pro Selection in 1987.
Banks is a Michigan university legend and was a three-time All-Big 10 selection. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and joined the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Banks was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Profile Football Hall of Fame.
