Former New York Giants general manager George Young is among the finalists in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class of 2020 as a Senior Contributor.
Young, after successful stints with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, took over the reins of a hopelessly lost New York Giants franchise at the behest of then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1979.
The Giants had been mired in an 18-year stretch of losing and playoff-less seasons amid a longstanding feud between the team’ two owners – Wellington Mara and his nephew, Tim.
Under Young’s nearly two-decade run as GM, the Giants’ fortunes would change dramatically. He hired coaches such as Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin and drafted some of the greatest players to ever wear Giant Blue: Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Carl Banks, Mark Bavaro, Jesse Armstead, Michael Strahan, Joe Morris, Leonard Marshall, Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber and Jeff Hostetler to name a few.
Young has been on the board before but has failed to garner enough votes to stick. This time around, with the league expanding the field for this special class to honor their 100th season, Young could finally get his well-deserved nod.
Young left the Giants after 1997 season, handing over the keys to Ernie Accorsi. He went on to assume the role of Senior Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL in 1998. He passed away in 2001.
