In 2004, then-New York Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi pulled off one of the most talked-about trades of all time when he acquired quarterback Eli Manning from the San Diego Chargers in exchange for a boatload at the NFL Draft.
What happened after that is a matter of history.
Manning would go on to become one of the most prolific passers ever, rocketing up all-time charts and resting comfortably in the top 10 of nearly every quarterback stat.
He’s won two Super Bowls, including a defeat of the then-perfect New England Patriots in 2007, and highlighted his career with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2016.
But time waits for no man, and on Tuesday, Manning’s successful era in East Rutherford came to a crushing, unceremonious end when the team benched him in favor of rookie Daniel Jones.
After learning of Manning’s benching, Accorsi offered an emotional take.
“I’ve been through the passing of the torch before with Johnny Unitas. This is a very difficult time for me, although I knew sooner or later it would come,” Accorsi said, via Michael Eisen. “Eli Manning gave me the two greatest moments of my time in the National Football League. He will always be very special to me, as will his two Super Bowl championships.”
Accorsi had given way to Jerry Reese by the time Manning won those titles, but everyone knew that was a product of Accorsi’s doing.
From the jump, Accorsi believed in Manning and knew he’d return the Giants to the promised land. He did, and the former GM will be forever grateful, as will Manning’s legion of fans.
