NFL Draft: Giants GM Joe Schoen defends Steve Tisch being in draft room
Giants chairman Steve Tisch looks on during warmups prior to a game against the Eagles on Jan. 5, 2025, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Chris Szagola
The Giants’ war room had a familiar face on Friday with president/CEO John Mara present with the front office when the team drafted Colton Hood with the 37th pick.
Also present? Steve Tisch, who was also seen Thursday night on the ESPN broadcast. Tisch has kept a low profile since January, when the U.S. Department of Justice revealed files that showed Tisch exchanging emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Tisch was not accused of any wrongdoing or charged with a crime.
General manager Joe Schoen defended Tisch’s presence by pointing to the title he’s had since 2005.
“He's the chairman of the team and he's in the draft room like he is every year,” Schoen said Friday.
On the Giants’ website, Tisch remains listed as chairman and executive vice president and chairman. In March, he and his two siblings transferred their remaining ownership stakes in the Giants to their children’s trust.
At the NFL annual meetings later that month, commissioner Roger Goodell said the trio are “no longer owners” of the Giants and added the league chose not to discipline Tisch under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
“We have not found anything that is a violation at this stage,” Goodell said on March 31.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
