Giants GM who engineered Eli Manning trade Ernie Accorsi dies at 84

Ernie Accorsi died Saturday at 84. The New York Giants announced Sunday that he passed away peacefully while surrounded by the love of his family. Accorsi was Browns general manager from 1985 through 1992, when Cleveland made the playoffs five times and reached the AFC Championship Game after the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons, losing each time to the Denver Broncos. He joined the Giants in 1994, engineered the 2004 Eli Manning trade, hired Tom Coughlin as head coach, and retired as GM in 2006 after two NFC East titles and four playoff berths. The New York Post reported a brief bout with cancer. USA Today listed his Giants GM years as 1998 to 2006; the Daily Mail said he was promoted after George Young retired in 1997. John Mara said Accorsi helped shape Giants history through vision and leadership and was a trusted adviser and dear friend. Roger Goodell called him one of the most respected football minds in NFL history. Tom Coughlin said Accorsi was very decisive, very opinionated, loyal, with a mind as sharp as a tack, and a great storyteller who loved to laugh.