The New York Giants held their Night with Legends event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden last week which featured many of their stars of the past recollecting some of the team’s greatest moments.
Their four championship teams of the Super Bowl era were honored along with their head coaches — Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin.
The Giants’ other Super Bowl team, the 2000 NFC Champions that lost Super Bowl XXXV, was also recognized.
Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan, who played on the 2000 team as well as the Super Bowl XLII team, took time out during the show to honor the late Jim Fassel, who coached the 2000 Giants and died of a heart attack in 2021 at the age of 71.
“We got to give it up for Jim Fassel. Rest in peace, Jim,” Strahan said to the audience and panel, who applauded. “I mean he was a hell of a coach. We won that division championship and went to that Super Bowl with him. I know we didn’t win it all but he was a big part of changing, I guess, the culture of the organization.
“He pushed them all (the proverbial poker chips) into the middle of the table,” Strahan said of the famous in-season speech Fassel gave in front of the media guaranteeing his team would make the playoffs that year.
“I think he was watching Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, and I think he got a little excited. That inspired all of us.”
Fassel coached the Giants from 1997-2003 and was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1997. His 58 victories are fourth on the Giants’ all-time list.
Perhaps his biggest victory of Fassel’s tenure was the 41-0 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings at Giants Stadium in the 2000 NFC Championship Game.
Earlier in the night, co-owner John Mara recalled the game, which was played on a field of what his father Wellington called “painted mud” at Giants Stadium.
“That was special, to be standing on the field at the end of that game watching the fans celebrate,” Mara said. “Many of you were at that game who are in the audience. That was a special moment.”
“I think it was our greatest win in Giants Stadium,” Mara declared.
