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Finally!
For many years, yours truly banged the drum for former New York Giants general manager George Young to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was finally elected as a ‘Contributor’ in 2020, and the pandemic-delayed enshrinement ceremony will take place Saturday in Canton, Oh. (NFL Network, 6:30 p.m. ET).
Young was Giants GM from 1979 until the end of the 1997 season. From his Hall of Fame bio:
During Young’s tenure, the Giants earned eight playoff berths, highlighted by victories in Super Bowls XXI and XXV, and compiled an overall record of 155-139-2. He was named NFL Executive of the Year an unprecedented five times – 1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, and 1997. Young also served as chairman of the NFL’s Competition Committee.
From Giants ownership when the announcement was made that Young would join the class of 2020;
“George is certainly very deserving of being in the Hall of Fame,” said team president and chief executive officer John Mara. “My only regret is that he’s not around to enjoy this. He took our organization from being in last place and not having a lot of respect around the league to being a Super Bowl Champion. He made every football department in our organization more professional. He changed the reputation and level of respect that our team had for the better. He improved us in so many different ways. He certainly is a very deserving Hall of Famer. Again, I only wish he could be around to enjoy this moment. It’s long overdue. All of us here are very happy that at long last he will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.”
“George Young transformed our organization,” said Giants chairman and executive vice president Steve Tisch. “My father (the late Bob Tisch, who purchased Tim Mara’s 50 percent ownership in 1991) always appreciated George’s leadership and vision, and George was vital to our family as we transitioned from our traditional business interests into the National Football League. For that, we are grateful, and his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is most deserving and a long time coming.”
This day has been a long time come. Congratulations to Young and the Giants!
The following list of Young’s hits and misses as Giants GM comes from a reader. Thanks to David Gray for taking the time, and for passing it along.
Hits
1979
Phil Simms, QB, No. 7
1981
Lawrence Taylor, LB, No. 2
Billy Ard, G No. 221 (rd 8)
Jim Burt, DT, UDFA
1982
Joe Morris, RB, No. 45 (rd 2)
1983
Terry Kinard, DB, No. 10
Leonard Marshall, DE No. 37 (rd 2)
Bart Oates, C, UDFA (Oates was part of the 1983 draft eligible class who was never drafted by the NFL and who did not sign as free agents until after the USFL folded)
Bill Parcells, Head Coach
1984
Carl Banks, LB, No. 3
William Roberts, OT-G No. 27
Gary Reasons, LB, No. 105 (rd 4)
1985
Mark Bavaro, TE, No. 100 (rd 4)
Sean Landeta, P, (UDFA)
1986
Mark Collins, CB, No. 44 (rd 2)
Erik Howard, DT, No. 46 (rd 2)
Pepper Johnson, LB, No. 51 (rd 2)
1987
Doug Riesenberg, T, No. 168 (rd 6)
1988
Jumbo Elliott, OT, No. 36 (rd 2)
1989
Greg Jackson, DB, No. 78 (rd 3)
Dave Meggett, RB, No 132 (rd 5)
Myron Guyton, DB, No. 218 (rd 8)
1990
Rodney Hampton, RB, No. 24
1991
Ed McCaffrey, WR, No. 83 (rd 3)
1992
Phillippi Sparks, DB, No. 41 (rd 2)
Keith Hamilton, DT, No. 99 (rd 4)
1993
Michael Strahan, DE, No. 40 (rd 2)
Jessie Armstead, L,B No. 207 (rd 8)
1996
Amani Toomer, WR, No. 34 (rd 2)
Roman Oben, OT, No. 66 (rd 3)
1997
Tiki Barber, RB, No. 36 (rd 2)
Brad Maynard, P, No. 95 (rd 3)
Sam Garnes, DB No. 136 (rd 5)
Misses
1981
Dave Young, TE No. 32 (rd 2)
1982
Butch Woolfolk, RB No. 18
1985
George Adams, RB No. 19
Stacy Robinson, WR No. 46 (rd 2)
1986
Greg Lasker, DB No. 53 (rd 2)
1987
Adrian White, DB No. 55 (rd 2)
1989
Brian Williams, C No. 18
1991
Jarrod Bunch, FB No. 27
Kanavis McGhee, LB No. 55 (rd 2)
1992
Derek Brown, TE No. 14
Dave Brown First round of the supplemental draft; thus, forfeiting their first-round
pick (which would be no. 9) the following year.
1994
Thomas Lewis, WR No. 24
Thomas Randolph, DB No. 47 (rd 2)
1995
Tyrone Wheatley, RB No. 17
1996
Cedric Jones, DE No. 5