Phil Simms NFL Career and Team History
Phil Simms played quarterback for the New York Giants from 1979 to 1993, appearing in 150 regular season games and starting 138 of them Pro Football Reference. He guided the Giants to two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XXI after the 1986 season and starting Super Bowl XXV after the 1990 season NFL.com. His career stats include 33,462 passing yards, 199 touchdowns, and a career passer rating of 78.8 across those 150 games.
Simms was selected by the Giants with the seventh overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft and spent his entire 14-year career with the franchise Pro Football Reference. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 1985 and 1993 and was named the Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player after completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
Contracts, Earnings, and Team Financial Impact
During his playing career, Simms signed a multi-year contract extension with the Giants in the mid-1980s that made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks on the roster at the time Forbes. His peak annual salary in the late 1980s and early 1990s reflected his status as the team's franchise quarterback, though exact annual base figures from that era are not fully disclosed in modern salary databases.
After retiring, Simms transitioned into broadcasting, joining CBS Sports as an NFL analyst in 1998, a role he held through the 2023 season Forbes. His broadcasting contract with CBS was reported to be worth several million dollars over its term, contributing to his post-career earnings alongside his Hall of Fame playing contract.
Current Role and Legacy Across Teams and Media
Phil Simms currently works as a football analyst and commentator, appearing on NFL-related programming and contributing to coverage of the New York Giants and other NFL teams NFL.com. His post-playing career has centered on media roles rather than front-office or coaching positions with any specific NFL franchise.
The Giants retired Simms' jersey number 11, and he was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 Pro Football Reference. His legacy remains tied primarily to the Giants, where he is remembered as the quarterback who led the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory in the 1986 season.