2008 Inductee

Jerry Reese

Hailing from Tiptonville, Tennessee, Jerry Reese was named the New York Giants' Senior Vice President and General Manager on January 16, 2007. He had spent the previous four seasons as the team's Director of Player Personnel. Reese coordinated the Giants' college Scouting, was in charge of the team's draft preparation and ran the draft room during the two days of player selections.

The selection of Reese is historic because he is the third African-American general manager in NFL history.


In his first year on the job as general manager, Reese was instrumental in the Giants Super Bowl XLII victory over the unbeaten Patriots. His 2007 draft class is one of the finest in recent memory and he has masterfully managed the roster. All eight of his draft picks made key contributions and he repeatedly hit home runs with waiver-wire pickups.

Reese went to the Giants after a successful playing and coaching career at the University of Tennessee at Martin. During his college playing career (1981-1984), Reese was honored as a two-time All-Gulf South Conference pick. He is among the leaders on UT Martin's all-time career list in interceptions. Reese led the team with seven interceptions in 1982 and was UT-Martin's leading tackler in 1984 with 99. Reese was GSC Defensive Player of the Week three times during his career and was named team MVP following his senior season.

Following his playing career, Reese served as a student assistant and as a graduate assistant before becoming a full-time coach of the secondary.

He moved to coaching the receivers and assumed the assistant head coach title in 1993. Reese was on track to become the head coach at his alma mater, and was initially hesitant to take the scouting job with the Giants.

After 13 years with the Giants organization, he earned his way to the top with perseverance and determination, character traits he credits to his humble beginnings in Tiptonville, Tennessee. In the fall of 1995, Reese was inducted into the U-T Martin Hall of Fame.