in just its third season, the team finished with the best record in the league at 11–1–1 and was awarded the nfl title. in a 14-year span from 1933 to 1946, new york qualified to play in the nfl championship game eight times, winning twice. they did not win another league title until 1956, aided by a number of future pro football hall of fame players such as running back frank gifford, linebacker sam huff, and offensive tackle roosevelt brown. the giants 1956 championship team not only comprised players who would eventually find their way to the pro football hall of fame, but it also had a hall of fame coaching staff. head coach jim lee howell's staff had vince lombardi coaching the offense and tom landry coaching the defense. from 1958 to 1963, new york played in the nfl championship game five out of those six years, but failed to win. the 1958 nfl championship game, in which they lost 23–17 in overtime to the baltimore colts, is credited with increasing the popularity of the nfl in the united states.