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tRY IT NOWJeff Hostetler will forever have a special place in Giants lore.
The Giants’ backup quarterback from 1984-92, who admirably stepped in for Phil Simms after Simms suffered a broken right foot in Week 15 of that 1990 season and led Big Blue to a Super Bowl triumph, said in a new book that he was badly injured during that title run.
In the new book, “The Franchise: New York Giants — A Curated History of Big Blue,” Hostetler revealed that he’d suffered a torn ACL in the 1991 NFC Championship game when he was hit by former teammate Jim Burt early in the fourth quarter.
Jeff Hostetler drops back to throw as Jim Burt dives at his legs. YouTube MJSIII
Jeff Hostetler says he tore his ACL on this play. YouTube MJSIII
On a second-and-8 play from the Giants’ own 39-yard line with the Giants leading 13-9, Hostetler connected with Mark Ingram (father of former Saints star Mark Ingram Jr.) for a first down to enter San Francisco territory. On the play, Burt slid into the Giants quarterback’s left knee, leaving the quarterback in excruciating pain.
Hostetler’s leg, which was planted for the throw, crumbled after being hit.
He stayed on the ground and was unable to get up at first before he eventually walked off under his own power. He later returned after third-stringer Matt Cavanaugh entered the game.
Jeff Hostetler lays on the ground in pain at Candlestick Park. Getty ImagesThe Giants’ drive was thwarted there, as Cavanaugh did not complete a pass.
Hostetler, however, miraculously returned to the 1991 NFC title game on the ensuing possession and helped lead the Giants to a 15-13 win.
Jeff Hostetler heroically led the Giants to a Super Bowl win. Getty Images
Jeff Hostetler led the Giants to an upset win over the Bills. Getty ImagesOne week later in Tampa, Fla., Hostetler would complete 20 of 32 attempts with a touchdown pass in the Giants’ 20-19 stunning upset of the Buffalo Bills, in Super Bowl XXV.
Oddly enough, four years earlier, in the 1986 NFC divisional playoff game vs. those same 49ers, Burt, then playing for the Giants, delivered a devastating hit on Niners QB Joe Montana, knocking him out of the 49-3 blowout win for the Giants with a back injury.
Montana was also knocked out of that 1991 NFC title game, with backup Steve Young getting some work in the fourth quarter.
