Ernie Accorsi, a Giant in every sense with a franchise-changing legacy

Ernie Accorsi, a prominent figure in NFL history, passed away at the age of 84 after a brief battle with cancer. His legacy is deeply rooted in his belief in and support for Eli Manning, which began during Accorsi's tenure as general manager of the New York Giants. Accorsi's relationship with Manning was one of trust and mutual respect, as evidenced by their conversations spanning several years.

One memorable anecdote involves Accorsi's heated exchange with Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony La Russa over Manning's future, which led to Accorsi writing a prophetic napkin note predicting Manning's Hall of Fame induction. Accorsi's scouting report on Manning from his time at Ole Miss proved to be invaluable in convincing the Giants to trade up and draft Manning, a move that ultimately paid off with two Super Bowl championships and a legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.