Remembering Ernie Accorsi
Former New York Giants General Manager Ernie Accorsi Dies at Age 84
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Key Points
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The 2004 Eli Manning trade included the Giants sending Philip Rivers, a third-round pick and New York’s first- and fifth-round selections in the 2005 draft to San Diego.
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Accorsi’s Cleveland tenure was especially successful: the Browns made the playoffs five times from 1985 through 1992, won 12 games in both 1986 and 1987, and reached the AFC Championship Game in 1986, 1987 and 1989—losing each time to Denver.
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Beyond his front-office work, Accorsi began his NFL career in the early 1970s as a public-relations executive with the Colts and later became the team’s assistant general manager in 1977.
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As Giants general manager, Accorsi also helped add key players Antonio Pierce and Plaxico Burress, who became important pieces of the team’s championship-era roster.
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After leaving the Giants, Accorsi continued contributing to the league as co-chair of the NFL’s General Managers Advisory Committee, where Commissioner Roger Goodell said he helped guide the game and strengthen the NFL.
Ernie Accorsi, the legendary NFL executive who built championship teams across three decades, died Sunday at 84 after a brief battle with cancer, the New York Giants announced. Accorsi served as general manager of the Colts, Browns, and Giants, but his legacy rests on one decision: the 2004 draft-day trade that brought Eli Manning to New York. That move laid the foundation for Super Bowl victories in 2008 and 2012.
Colleagues and players remembered Accorsi as a sharp, loyal football mind known for his humor and storytelling. Eli Manning paid tribute to the man who drafted him, thanking him for shaping his career and the franchise's future.
The Trade That Changed Giants History
In 2004, Accorsi orchestrated one of football's boldest moves. The Giants sent Philip Rivers, a third-round pick, and first- and fifth-round selections in the 2005 draft to San Diego for the right to draft Eli Manning. At the time, many questioned the trade. Within four years, it paid off spectacularly when Manning led the Giants to shock the unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Accorsi retired after the 2006 season, one year before the Giants' first championship run began. The team honored him with a Super Bowl ring for his role assembling that historic roster, and inducted him into the Giants' Ring of Honor in 2016.
Building Winners in Cleveland
Accorsi's run as Browns general manager from 1985 through 1992 proved his talent for building competitive teams. Cleveland made the playoffs five times during that span and won 12 games in both 1986 and 1987. The Browns reached the AFC Championship Game three straight years from 1986 to 1989, though they lost each matchup to Denver.
Despite falling short of the Super Bowl, Accorsi's work in Cleveland established him as one of the league's sharpest talent evaluators. The combination of regular playoffs and double-digit win seasons showed his ability to sustain excellence.
Assembling Giants Championship Rosters
Beyond the Manning trade, Accorsi strengthened the Giants through strategic additions. He helped bring in linebacker Antonio Pierce and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, both key pieces of the 2008 championship team. He also hired coach Tom Coughlin, whose defensive schemes maximized the talent Accorsi assembled.
Accorsi's impact extended beyond his tenure. While he left in 2006, the foundation he built sustained the Giants through another Super Bowl win in 2012 under the same core players and coach he had put in place.
A Career Spanning Decades of NFL Impact
Accorsi's influence on professional football extended far beyond his GM roles. He began his NFL career in the early 1970s as a public-relations executive with the Colts and became assistant general manager in 1977. Athlon Sports noted his role in shaping the career of analyst Mel Kiper Jr., helping change the landscape of sports television coverage.
After leaving the Giants, Accorsi remained active as co-chair of the NFL's General Managers Advisory Committee. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell credited him with helping guide the game and strengthen the league through his wisdom and counsel.
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