THEIR STORY
A life remembered
Legendary NFL executive Ernie Accorsi passed away at the age of 84 on September 19, 2026, after battling cancer. Accorsi was one of the most respected executives in professional football and spent decades helping build successful NFL teams.
- Served as general manager of the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants.
- Built a reputation for identifying talented quarterbacks and making bold roster decisions.
- Drafted John Elway with the Baltimore Colts in 1983.
- Helped bring Bernie Kosar to the Cleveland Browns.
- Built the Browns teams that reached the AFC Championship Game three times during his tenure.
- Made one of the biggest moves of his career in 2004 by trading for Eli Manning on draft day.
- Manning later helped the Giants win two Super Bowl championships.
- Accorsi also hired head coach Tom Coughlin and helped assemble much of the roster that later won Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
- Although he retired after the 2006 season, the Giants awarded him championship rings for both Super Bowl victories.
- He was inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor in 2016.
- His professional football career lasted around 36 years, during which he became known for his leadership, football knowledge, and talent evaluation.