Ernie Accorsi, a legendary New York Giants front office executive who helped build the roster that made it to Super Bowl XXXV and traded for Eli Manning, has died, the team said. He was 84.
Accorsi was the Giants’ general manager from 1998 to 2006. He was also the general manager of the Baltimore Colts and the executive vice president of football operations for the Cleveland Browns.
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Ernie Accorsi speaks after being inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor during halftime of the New York Giants-Cincinnati Bengals game on Nov. 14, 2016, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“It was the honor of my dad’s lifetime to represent the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants, three organizations that meant so much to him throughout his remarkable career,” the Accorsi family said. “Our family is deeply grateful to each of them and to the many people who became lifelong friends along the way.
“We are especially grateful to the New York Giants organization, John Mara, Ronnie Barnes, and the late Wellington Mara for their friendship, loyalty, and love for my father over so many years. The Giants were far more than a team to him. They were family, and being part of that family was something he treasured. Once a Giant, always a Giant.”
The Giants released a statement on Accorsi’s death hours before the start of the majority of the NFL’s Week 2 slate.
“Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through his vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization,” Giants president John Mara said in a statement. “Beyond his accomplishments as a football executive, he was a trusted advisor and dear friend. His legacy will forever be part of the Giants, and he will be greatly missed.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also reflected on Accorsi’s life and impact.
Eli Manning, Ernie Accorsi and Tom Coughlin pose for a picture after Manning announced his retirement during a press conference on Jan. 24, 2020, at Quest Diagnostic Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The two-time Super Bowl MVP is retiring after 16 seasons with the team. (Getty Images)
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“Ernie Accorsi was one of the most respected football minds in NFL history and a dear friend whose wisdom and perspective I valued tremendously,” he said. “Throughout his remarkable career, he shaped championship-caliber clubs and earned the admiration of everyone who worked with him.
“Ernie’s impact extended beyond the teams he served. As co-chair of the General Managers Advisory Committee, he helped guide our game and strengthen the NFL. His integrity, common sense and commitment to doing what was best for football made him an invaluable voice. Ernie was thoughtful, humble, and he cared deeply about the people in our league. He never lost sight of the relationships that make football special and we will all greatly miss him.”
Accorsi executed the trade that brought Manning to the Giants during the 2004 NFL Draft. The team traded the rights to Philip Rivers to the San Diego Chargers for the former Ole Miss standout.
The move changed the history of the Giants as Manning would eventually guide the team to two Super Bowl titles during his career.
“I was extremely sad to hear the news about Ernie,” Manning said in a statement. “I call Ernie every draft week for the last 12 years, maybe longer than that, and just thank him for making the trade and believing in me and bringing me to the New York Giants. I know he was the believer in me and kind of the reason I got here.
“I appreciated him so much for building such great teams and giving us the opportunity to win some championships here. He was always so fun to sit with and just talk, whether it’s the Giants or his time in Baltimore around the Colts. His stories around the NFL and the people he was around that shaped his career were always so entertaining. I know the Giants organization owes a lot of thanks to Ernie Accorsi and what he was able to do for the organization.”
New York Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi talks to reporters at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel in Tampa. The Giants faced the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. (NY Daily News via Getty Images)
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The Giants inducted Accorsi into their Ring of Honor in 2016 with Tom Coughlin and Justin Tuck.