Coughlin, Tuck, Accorsi to enter Giants’ Ring of Honor

Tom Coughlin, Justin Tuck and Ernie Accorsi will be inducted into the New York Giants’ Ring of Honor this season. The trio will be so honored at halftime of a Nov. 14 Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The careers of the three men will always be linked in Giants’ lore. Accorsi was the general manager when Coughlin was hired as coach, and engineered the trade for Eli Manning that set the Giants on a championship path. Coughlin won two Super Bowls in 12 seasons with Manning, and Tuck was a dominant defensive end on both of those Coughlin championship teams.

Tom Coughlin

Just the second man to coach the Giants for at least 12 seasons, Coughlin led Super Bowl-winning teams in 2007 and 2011. Hall of Famer Steve Owen coached the Giants for 23 years, from 1931-1953.

With the Giants, Coughlin was 102-90 in the regular season, and 8-3 in the postseason. The 102 victories are second in franchise history to Owen’s 151. Coughlin led the Giants to three NFC East titles and five playoff berths. His eight postseason triumphs tie him with Parcells for the most ever by a Giants coach.

“It was a great privilege to be the 16th head coach of the New York Giants, and it’s a privilege and a tremendous honor to be a part of those great names in Giant folklore that are in the Ring of Honor,” Coughlin said in a statement released by the Giants. “It’s something Judy (his wife), my family and I very much appreciate. The New York Giants, to me, is the greatest franchise in the history of the NFL. We recognize the long history of the Giants and the greatest city in the world, the tremendous coaches and players that have represented the Giants over the years. It’s a great honor to be included in the same breath with some of these prestigious former players and coaches.”

Justin Tuck

Tuck, who announced his retirement this offseason, finished his career sixth in franchise history with 60.5 sacks. He had 5.5 sacks in the postseason, including two in each of the Giants’ Super Bowl victories he played in.

Tuck was a two-time Pro Bowler and was Giants’ defensive captain for four seasons.

“That is just special,” Tuck said via the Giants. “They gave me the chance to be a Giant. None of this would be possible without them, so I think it is fitting that I get the opportunity to go in with them. How I look at it is I will be the third of this group and the other two are unbelievable with what they have been able to accomplish, not just with the Giants, but with football in general. I am pretty lucky to be even considered in the same light as those two. Obviously, they are very important to what I have been able to accomplish in football and I wouldn’t even be in the conversation if it wasn’t for them and hats off to them, and I am looking forward to sharing a night with them.”

Ernie Accorsi

In Accorsi’s nine seasons as general manager (1998-2006) the Giants won two NFC East titles, earned four postseason berths, and advanced to Super Bowl XXXV. His 2004 trade for Manning set the stage for the Giants to win titles, and he is given much of the credit for building the roster that won the 2007 Super Bowl.

“When you start working in the National Football League, this is not something you would ever dream could happen,” Accorsi said via the Giants. “I’ve seen these in different stadiums, and when you see all the great players and coaches up there, it’s not something I ever thought could happen. I can’t even put into words what an honor it is, especially with this franchise. It’s overwhelming that someone who started at the bottom in this league could end up with some of the names up there, like Lawrence Taylor and Frank Gifford. It’s just incredible for me to get this.”

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The inductions of Coughlin, Tuck and Accorsi will bring to 42 the total number of men in the Ring of Honor.