The New York Giants are grieving the loss of former general manager Ernie Accorsi, who died Saturday at age 84. Eli Manning, a franchise legend, was among those who paid tribute and thanked Accorsi for bringing him to New York.

On Sunday, after the Giants announced Accorsi’s death, Manning responded on social media. He quote-tweeted the team’s post and wrote, “RIP Ernie Accorsi. Thank you for making me a New York Giant.”

Accorsi served as the Giants’ general manager from 1998 to 2006, after working as assistant general manager under George Young. During his tenure, he helped build the foundation for a team that later won two Super Bowls.

Accorsi’s biggest move was during the 2004 NFL Draft, when he arranged the trade that brought Manning to the Giants. New York first picked quarterback Philip Rivers at No. 4, then traded with the San Diego Chargers for Manning, who was the first overall pick.

Manning went on to become one of the most important players in Giants history. He played all 16 years of his NFL career in New York, winning two Super Bowls and being named Super Bowl MVP both times. Accorsi’s choice to bring in Manning became a defining moment of his time as general manager.

Manning has often talked about how much he appreciated Accorsi. For more than ten years, he called Accorsi around the time of the NFL Draft to thank him for believing in him and bringing him to New York. Manning also said Accorsi built teams that gave the Giants chances to compete for championships.

The Giants added Accorsi to their Ring of Honor in 2016. Giants owner John Mara said Accorsi helped shape the team’s history with his vision and leadership.

For Manning, Accorsi’s legacy was personal. His short tribute showed how much the former general manager meant to his career and his life with the Giants.