The New York Giants’ current futility (no playoffs in four consecutive seasons and nine of the last 10) is paltry compared to the depths the franchise crumbled into in 1979. Not only were the team a laughing stock on the field (a 15-year playoff drought), but the front office was a mess, with co-owners Wellington Mara and Tim Mara embroiled in a bitter feud.
“It was a bit chaotic. The argument between my father (Wellington) and my cousin (Tim), his nephew, was in the headlines every day, ”said current Giants owner John Mara. “Obviously we were just in a terrible situation. “
It was in this environment that George Young entered in February 1979 as the first managing director. All Young did over the next 19 years was bring the Giants back to glory with two Super Bowl titles and, perhaps equally impressive, restore order to the franchise. For this, Young, who died in 2001, will be inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame on August 7 as a member of the 2020 Centennial Class.
“He’s made us much more professional in all areas – our screening, our professional staff, our medical staff, our equipment staff, our video staff. All of these areas he improved for us, ”said John Mara. “We had been doing things a certain way for many years and lagging behind the rest of the league. George updated us. Not just with the acquisition of talent as a player, but also with the acquisition of talent as a coach and scout and staff. “
Born in Baltimore in 1930, Young was named the Little All-American as a defensive tackle for Bucknell in 1951. The Dallas Texans selected Young with the 302nd pick in the 1952 NFL Draft.
Young’s chances of making the squad were hampered by his 1-A status for the military draft despite pleading that he would not be selected for service.
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