Ernie Accorsi, Architect of the Eli Manning Trade and Coughlin Hire, Dies at 84

Ernie Accorsi, the former New York Giants general manager who engineered the 2004 draft-day trade for Eli Manning and hired coach Tom Coughlin, died Saturday, the team announced Sunday. He was 84.

The Giants did not disclose a cause of death.

Accorsi served as Giants GM from 1998 to 2006, after four years as assistant GM under George Young. He previously was general manager of the Baltimore Colts (1982-83) and Cleveland Browns (1985-92).

Accorsi and co-owner John Mara hired Coughlin as head coach in 2004, replacing Jim Fassel. That year, on draft day, Accorsi traded quarterback Philip Rivers, a 2004 third-round pick and 2005 first- and fifth-round picks to the San Diego Chargers for the No. 1 overall pick, Eli Manning. Manning and Coughlin went on to win Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI together.

"Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through his vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization," Mara said in a statement. "Beyond his accomplishments as a football executive, he was a trusted advisor and dear friend. His legacy will forever be part of the Giants, and he will be greatly missed."

"He's the guy that made the trade for Eli Manning. That will go down in Giants history as one of the great moves of all time," Coughlin said in the same statement. "He had followed Eli from the time Eli was a very young player at Ole Miss, and he was convinced that Eli was the franchise quarterback that the Giants needed."

"I call Ernie every draft week for the last 12 years ... and just thank him for making the trade and believing in me," Manning said in the same statement. "I know the Giants organization owes a lot of thanks to Ernie Accorsi and what he was able to do for the organization."