David Alan Gettleman (born February 21, 1951) is a former American football executive in the National Football League (NFL) who was the senior vice president and general manager for the New York Giants from 2018 to 2021 and the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017.
![]() Gettleman in 2022 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born: | (1951-02-21) February 21, 1951 (age 71) Boston, Massachusetts |
Career information | |
High school: | Boston Latin |
College: | Springfield |
Career history | |
As an executive: | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Executive profile at PFR | |
Gettleman grew up in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston Latin School, where he played varsity football. He then attended Springfield College, where he earned a degree in education and played offensive tackle on the freshman football team. Gettleman has two master's degrees: one in physical education from Southern Connecticut State in 1978, and another in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1986.
He began his football career as a teacher-coach at Spackenkill High School in Poughkeepsie, New York. As the head coach from 1973–78 and 1980–81, Gettleman led his teams to two league titles, competing against schools twice the size as Spackenkill. He spent a season as a volunteer assistant at Cal State Long Beach in 1979. Gettleman joined the faculty of Kingston High School in 1982 and became the head coach in 1984, leading his team to a Section I Bowl berth.
Gettleman was hired by Bill Polian in 1986 as a scouting intern for the Buffalo Bills.[1] He spent the next seven years working in their scouting department before leaving to accept a scouting job with the Denver Broncos after the 1993 season. Gettleman was responsible for scouting players from the East and Southeast regions during his four-year tenure in Denver.[2]
In 1998, he was hired as a scout by the New York Giants, who promoted him to Pro Personnel Director the next year. In 2012, he was given the title of Senior Pro Personnel Analyst. During his first tenure with the Giants, he focused on improving the team's offensive line, and also acquired Mike Barrow, who led the team in tackles in 2000. He signed Plaxico Burress prior to the 2005 season, who became one of the team's best wide receivers and a star on the Super Bowl XLII team, and Antonio Pierce, who went on to have over 100 tackles each year from 2005 to 2007, as well as kicker Lawrence Tynes.[3] Many of these players also contributed to the Super Bowl XLVI team, along with new additions Antrel Rolle, linebacker Michael Boley (the team's top two tacklers), defensive tackles Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, and punter Steve Weatherford.[4]
In January 2013, he was chosen to become the general manager of the Carolina Panthers.[5] In the 2015 season, the Panthers started 14–0, before falling to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.[6]
The team defeated the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, en route to Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[7] On July 17, 2017, the Panthers relieved him of his duties as general manager.[8]
During Gettleman's tenure as general manager the Panthers compiled a regular-season record of 51–28–1. In that 5-year timeframe the Panthers advanced to the playoffs 3 seasons and won 3 NFC South titles.
On December 28, 2017, Gettleman was named as the new general manager of the New York Giants, returning to the team after six years.[9]
Gettleman's second tenure began by hiring a new head coach in Pat Shurmur,[10] and with drafting running back Saquon Barkley second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft,[11] ahead of notable quarterbacks Sam Darnold (third), Josh Allen (seventh), Josh Rosen (tenth), and Lamar Jackson (32nd).[12] In his first season, the team finished 5–11, last place in the NFC East. The following year, Gettleman traded wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, which caused controversy among fans and the media.[13] Gettleman also drafted Duke quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick, ahead of Dwayne Haskins,[14] who many observers felt was a better choice. This, however, turned out to not be the case, as Haskins lasted just two seasons in Washington before being released. [15] With Jones at the helm starting in game three, the team finished 4–12. Shurmur was fired after the season in favor of Joe Judge.
The 2020 season was a small improvement for the team, as they finished 6–10, but missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year in Week 17.[16]
In 2021, the Giants started the season 1–5, and by Week 14 were guaranteed a losing record for the fifth consecutive year and missing the playoffs again.[17] By 2020 and into 2021, Gettleman had been repeatedly criticized by former Giants players as well as fans[18][19][20] for his perceived poor draft record, failing to fix the offensive line,[21] including passing on several quarterbacks in the 2018 draft, and lackluster free agent signings, which includes Golden Tate, who was promptly suspended,[22] and signing Kenny Golladay to a $72-million dollar contract over four years, who struggled.[23]
Gettleman retired following the 2021 season finishing his tenure with the Giants with a 19–46 (.292) record in four seasons.[24] At no point during Gettleman's tenure did the Giants have a winning record or sit over .500.[25]
Gettleman is a Messianic Jew.[26] On June 5, 2018 it was announced Gettleman would undergo treatment for lymphoma,[27] which was described as being "in complete remission" that July.[28] He and his wife Joanne have three children, Aaron, Sam, and Ana.
Carolina Panthers general managers | |
---|---|
# denotes de facto general manager |
New York Giants general managers | |
---|---|
# denotes de facto general manager |