John Mara, co-owner of the New York Giants, formally announced Wednesday that Dave Gettleman will remain a fourth season as general manager. Mara simply said that Gettleman was “coming back.”
The Giants advanced 15-33 in Gettleman’s three seasons as general manager, with double-digit losses in each season.
Mara said he wanted to see progress this season and did so despite the team that was 6-10 in the first season of Joe Judge as an NFL head coach.
“There’s a different feeling in the building than in a number of years,” Mara said.
Mara said he likes what he saw from the working relationship between his soon-to-be 70-year-old general manager and his newly-appointed 39-year-old head coach. Mara said the two “worked very well together.”
“I like the combination we currently have, and I saw no reason to break it up,” Mara said. “We have the foundation for something that can be very successful going forward.”
Mara said that although the Giants did not win enough games, they made enough progress to stay the course.
Via the Big Blue View Twitter account, here are more takeaways from Mara’s season-ending Zoom call.
If you are entering a full season …
John Mara praised the “effort and patience and discipline and sacrifice” of everyone in the organization involved in the season.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
On the right …
Joe Judge has shown ‘great leadership and great adaptability’ during a very difficult season, says John Mara.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
About the need to win …
“I can’t wait too long” for a winning team, says John Mara. Believe that they have the right people in the building.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
Mara wants another important step forward next season. “We need to win more games.”
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
On Daniel Jones …
John Mara: Daniel Jones “has what it takes to lead us where we want to go.”
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
About Gettleman’s overall performance of three years …
John Mara: ‘We did a miscalculation’ in staff in 2018. Say that the last 2 seasons have been much better.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
Mara: Gettleman’s batting average in staff “has definitely improved.”
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
Mara says ‘there was never any direction of ownership’ to try and win with Eli Manning in 2018 and 2019.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
About unrest in the fan base …
John Mara: “I think most of our fans believe we’re making progress.”
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
About what the Giants need to accomplish this off-season …
“We are far from being a final product. Lots more pieces we need here.” – John Mara
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
“We should definitely help our offense” in FA and the draft, says John Mara.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
If you miss the playoffs …
“We were 6-10. We did not deserve to be 6-10 in the playoffs,” said John Mara.
– Big Blue View (@bigblueview) 6 January 2021
– This post will be updated with full quotes and more of my thoughts.