Ernie Accorsi
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Ernie Accorsi was the general manager of the NFL's New York Giants football team. Accorsi had held the position from January 8, 1998, when he took over for the legendary George Young until January 16, 2007, the date of his retirement. The Giants have promoted Jerry Reese into the GM role.
Accorsi joined the Giants in 1994 and served as an assistant to the general manager until he succeeded Young in 1998.
Accorsi has been the general manager of two other NFL franchises, the Baltimore Colts, from 1982 to 1983, and the Cleveland Browns, from 1985 to 1992.
The Giants made one Super Bowl appearance as NFC Champion under Accorsi (in Super Bowl XXXV, which they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-7), and had won two NFC East division titles (2000, 2005) while making the playoffs four times (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006).
Accorsi's highest profile personnel move came at the 2004 NFL Draft, where he traded Giants first round draft choice quarterback Philip Rivers and three draft picks (a 3rd round pick in 2004 and 1st and 5th round picks in 2005) to the San Diego Chargers for Number 1 overall draft choice quarterback Eli Manning, giving the Giants a young franchise quarterback. The move met with the approval of Giants fans, who cheered loudly when the trade was announced by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Manning has since led the Giants to playoff appearances in 2005 and 2006. Both seasons the Giants were eliminated in the first round.
Accorsi is also responsible for drafting star tight end Jeremy Shockey in the 2002 NFL Draft and hiring current head coach Tom Coughlin after the 2003 season.
Accorsi is a 1963 graduate of Wake Forest University.
