Former New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who orchestrated the 2004 draft-day trade that brought Eli Manning to the franchise and became only the second general manager inducted into the team's Ring of Honor, died Saturday. He was 84.
Accorsi passed away peacefully while surrounded by family.
Born October 29, 1941, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he served as Giants GM from 1998 to 2006 after four seasons as an assistant under George Young. In nine years as general manager, the Giants won two NFC East titles, made four playoff appearances, and reached Super Bowl XXXV.
Accorsi retired after the 2006 season. New York won the Super Bowl the following year and presented Accorsi with a championship ring, then won again in 2011.
The Manning deal
defined his Giants tenure. San Diego selected the Ole Miss quarterback first overall. New York took Philip Rivers at No. 4, then sent Rivers, a 2004 third-round pick and first- and fifth-round choices in 2005 to the Chargers for Manning.
Accorsi had ended his college scouting report on the quarterback with a single line: "These guys are rare, you know."
Manning became the greatest quarterback in Giants history and the MVP of Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
"Ernie will always be remembered, and I say this out of great respect, he's the guy that made the trade for Eli Manning," Tom Coughlin said. "That will go down in Giants history as one of the great moves of all time. Was it risky? Sure it was risky. Ernie did it. Shut the door, went in, he did it on his own."
Manning said he called Accorsi every draft week for more than a decade.
“I was extremely sad to hear the news about Ernie. 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," Manning said. "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.”
Giants co-owner John Mara called Accorsi a trusted advisor and dear friend whose vision helped shape the course of franchise history.
“Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through his vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization. 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," Mara said.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised him as one of the most respected football minds in NFL history and a valued co-chair of the league's General Managers Advisory Committee.
Accorsi's 37-year career also included general manager stops with the Baltimore Colts and Cleveland Browns. In his last 16 years as a GM, he produced nine playoff teams and six division champions. The three clubs won a combined 143 games under his watch. Accorsi, Coughlin and Justin Tuck were inducted together into the Ring of Honor in 2016.
The Accorsi family said representing those three organizations was the honor of his lifetime. The Giants, they added, were far more than a team to him. They were family, and being part of that family was something he treasured.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Ex-New York Giants GM Ernie Accorsi dead at 84
