The Giants have themselves a new GM. The team announced the hiring of Dave Gettleman on Thursday afternoon. He’ll be formally introduced to local media at a Thursday morning news conference. 
“Given where we are as a team, we thought it was important to bring in someone with experience as a General Manager and a proven track record,” president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch said in a joint statement. “Dave’s experience is unparalleled. He did an outstanding job as general manager in Carolina, and he was vital to our success during his tenure here. Dave is going to bring his own approach to our organization in how we draft and acquire players through free agency.”
Gettleman takes the wheel during a critical time for the Giants. After losing their three top receivers to injury in the opening weeks of the season, the Giants have had one of their worst seasons in franchise history. Heading into Week 17, the G-Men have one of the league’s worst records at 2-13.
Finding a new coach will be at the top of Gettleman’s to-do list. Ownership has indicated that interim coach Steve Spagnuolo will be among those interviewed for the job, but the rest will likely be up to Gettleman. This year’s top candidates include Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. It’s possible that Wilks could have a leg up on the rest given his history with Gettleman.
Beyond that, the Giants will have to figure out how to handle the Eli Manning situation. The team’s previous regime ignited a firestorm of controversy by benching Manning this year in favor of backup Geno Smith. Days later, Manning was re-installed as the starter while Reese and coach Ben McAdoo were shown the door. Manning says he wants to stay in New York, but the team owes him a $5MM roster bonus in March. The Giants can escape that obligation by releasing him, though they do not have an obvious replacement in-house. Smith, of course, is not a viable option and rookie Davis Webb has yet to see the field.
Gettleman boasts 30 years of experience in the NFL, including four seasons as the Panthers’ GM and 15 seasons in the Giants organization. His history with the team and close relationship with Ernie Accorsi, who served as a hiring consultant in the team’s search, helped him land the job.
The Giants also interviewed interim general manager Kevin Abrams, vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross, and former NFL executive and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for the position. Accorsi has a history of guiding teams to a quick hire, but it was widely expected that a new GM would not be appointed until the New Year. However, it appears that the Giants were unwilling to risk losing Gettleman to another team in need of a GM.
Gettleman, 66, first came to the Giants in 1998 as as assistant to then-pro personnel director Tim Rooney. Soon after, he was promoted into Rooney’s role. He remained with the organization until 2013 when Accorsi, acting as a hiring consultant for the the Panthers, pushed Carolina to hire him as GM.
Gettleman is the Giants’ fourth GM since 1979, following the lengthy runs of George Young, Accorsi, and Jerry Reese.
Not very shocking
Merry Christmas, fellow Giants fans. This is the first step in returning to Glory.
I think it’s a good hire. Not a Giants fan but I’d like to see them turn it around so hopefully he is the right man for the job and I believe he is. They have some talent on that roster, they need to draft their QB for the future and get themselves a great offensive minded coach to get he lost out of OBJ and the new young QB who they draft.
He is going to get rid of Eli Manning
Accorsi is a fraud! Look how he helped the Bears. It’s ugly in Chicago.
Accorsi also recommended Reese, can we not go outside of this inept org. And get a competent gm and coach!!
“Local Boy Does Good”
—– Congratulations, Dave Gettleman !!!
Got a rep as a very good cap manager but lousy at building relationships with players. He punched his ticket out of town when he didn’t (initially) take care of Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen. It may have made cap sense to be a tough negotiator, but it really hurt his relationship with the team. Maybe he’s learned some ‘people’ skills.
Gettleman will do what Mara/Tisch want done and be the good guy/bad guy to do it. There’s probably more to the hire than just being an “organization” guy.
There has to be some lines drawn with this team and Gettleman will be the guy to do it and take the heat or accolades as they come.
Perhaps Beckham and all his baggage get traded….please.
“Local Boy Does Good !
– Congratulations to Dave Gettleman !