The Giants announced the death of their former general manager Ernie Accorsi at the age of 84 on Sunday.
Accorsi was the Giants’ GM from 1998 until his retirement in 2006 and, after hiring coach Tom Coughlin, helped create the core of the team that would go on to win the Super Bowl the following season. Quarterback Eli Manning, whom Accorsi drafted in 2004, and several other players acquired by Accorsi also had a role in the team’s Super Bowl victory after the 2011 season.
Accorsi was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in 2016 along with Coughlin and Justin Tuck, who was drafted by Accorsi.
“Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization,” Giants co-owner 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.”
Accorsi entered the NFL with the Colts in 1970, worked for the league and then returned to the Colts as their assistant GM in 1977. He became their GM in 1982 and held the same role for the Browns from 1985-1992 before moving to the Giants.