Longtime exec Accorsi, architect of Giants' historic SB team, dies at 84

Longtime NFL executive Ernie Accorsi, the architect of the New York Giants team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, has died. He was 84.

The Giants announced Sunday that Accorsi died Saturday, surrounded by his family.

"Ernie helped shape the course of New York Giants history through his vision, leadership and unwavering belief in building a championship organization," Giants owner John 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."

Accorsi spent parts of four decades in top front-office roles around the NFL and served as general manager for three different teams, most recently the Giants from 1998 to 2006.

Accorsi served as the GM of the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1992 before joining the Giants as their assistant GM in 1994, working under Hall of Fame executive George Young. He replaced Young as the GM four years later and built the core of a team that reached three Super Bowls and won two Lombardi Trophies.

Under Accorsi, the Giants hired two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin in 2004 and pulled off the draft day trade for star quarterback Eli Manning later that year. Accorsi also drafted multiple other franchise icons, including Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Chris Snee and Brandon Jacobs.

Accorsi retired as Giants GM in 2006, one year before New York upset the then-undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Giants beat the Patriots again four years later in Super Bowl XLVI.

A graduate of Wake Forest, Accorsi also served as GM of the then-Baltimore Colts from 1982 to 1983.