Rejoice, New York Giants fans! It has finally happened! The late George Young is finally and deservedly headed to Canton, Ohio to forever enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“George is certainly very deserving of being in the Hall of Fame,” co-owner John Mara said in a team statement. “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.
“I think this would have meant a lot to George because he always had a great appreciation for the history of the game and he had so much respect for people who were enshrined in the Hall. I think this would have meant the world to him, even though he may not have admitted to that. I think this would have had a huge impact on him. Again, I’m really sorry he’s not around to enjoy it.”
Young served as the Giants’ general manager from 1979-97 after serving four years as the Director of player personnel for the Miami Dolphins. Prior to that, he was the assistant coach of the Baltimore Ravens from 1968-1974.
During his time as GM of the Giants, Young won Executive of the Year a remarkable five times (1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1997). He is also a three-time Super Bowl champion (V, XXI, XXV) and one-time NFL champion (1968).
“George Young’s career is the very definition of a Hall of Famer,” said Ernie Accorsi, who succeeded him as general manager in 1998. “From assistant coach to scout to general manager to trusted advisor to Commissioner Tagliabue, every step of the way there was excellence. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of George or something I learned from him. The only bittersweet part is that he’s not here. But as the great Beano Cook would say, ‘If the Gipper knew, George knows.’
“He was my best friend in the National Football League for 31 years. There were not too many days, certainly when we were together every day, but there weren’t too many days, even when I was in Cleveland, that we didn’t talk.
“It was so great being able to come back to work for him (on the Giants). I was working for the Orioles. I don’t know if I would have ever gotten back into the National Football League if it wasn’t for George.”
Young enters Canton as part of a unique centennial class aimed at celebrating the league’s 100th anniversary.