The 1988New York Giantsseason was the franchise's 64th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished 10–6, but due to the Philadelphia Eagles, who also went 10–6, completed a season sweep of New York Giants, a loss to the New York Jets in the season finale kept them out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season due to them also losing the conference tiebreaker to the Los Angeles Rams for the final wild-card berth. The season was marked early by the suspension for substance abuse of star linebacker Lawrence Taylor by the NFL for the first four games of the season. Following the end of the season, the Giants would see two longtime defensive stalwarts; defensive end George Martin and future Hall-of-Fame inside linebacker Harry Carson, announce their retirement.