Accorsi and Panthers owner Jerry Richardson have a deep history that goes back to their days with the Baltimore Colts in the early 1970s. Accorsi was the Giants' GM from 1998 to 2006, drafting Eli Manning in 2004.
Baltimore Colts[edit]
Accorsi was promoted to General Manager in 1982.[3] The Colts finished 0–8–1 in the strike-shortened 1982 season, thereby earning the right to select Stanford University quarterback John Elway with the first overall pick.[3] Elway, however, refused to play for Baltimore, and using leverage as a draftee of the New York Yankees baseball club, forced a trade to Denver Broncos.[4] The team finished 7–9 in 1983, but that would be their last season in Baltimore.[3] He resigned as GM after the 1983 season.[5]
Cleveland Browns[edit]
In 1985, Accorsi was hired by then Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell to serve as the team's new General Manager and Executive Vice President of Football Operations, serving for seven seasons.[1] Accorsi was responsible for the acquisition of quarterback Bernie Kosar in the 1985 supplemental draft.[6] During his tenure the Browns made 5 playoff appearances and got to the AFC Championship Game three times, but lost each time to Elway's Broncos.[7] He resigned in 1991.[8]
New York Giants[edit]
Accorsi joined the Giants in 1994 and served as an assistant to the general manager until he succeeded Young in 1998.
The Giants made one Super Bowl appearance under Accorsi in Super Bowl XXXV, which they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-7, won two NFC East division titles (2000, 2005) while making the playoffs four times (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006).[7]
Accorsi's highest profile personnel move came at the 2004 NFL Draft, where he traded Giants first round draft choice quarterback Philip Rivers and three draft picks (a 3rd round pick in 2004 and 1st and 5th round picks in 2005) to the San Diego Chargers for Number 1 overall draft choice quarterback Eli Manning, giving the Giants a young franchise quarterback. The move met with the approval of Giants fans, who cheered loudly when the trade was announced by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Manning then led the Giants to playoff appearances in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Manning led the Giants to three straight road playoff victories, culminating in a victory over the then-undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Following the 2011 season, Manning would capture the Super Bowl XLVI title. Manning was named MVP of both Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, confirming Accorsi's belief that Manning was a star talent.[9]
Accorsi was also responsible for drafting Osi Umenyiora, Chris Snee, Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Brandon Jacobs, as well as signing] Antonio Pierce, Kareem McKenzie, Plaxico Burress, and Fred Robbins as free agents. He hired current head coach Tom Coughlin after the dismissal of Jim Fassel following the 2003 season.[10] Accorsi retired in 2007.
On November 9, 2012, Accorsi was hired by the Carolina Panthers as a consultant after general manager Marty Hurney was fired.[11]
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