David Tyree used his head to make the greatest, most improbable catch in Giants history, and now the Giants will use Tyree’s head and smarts as he returns to the organization as its new Director of Player Development.
Tyree, 34, replaces Charles Way, the former Giants fullback who earlier this month was named the head of the NFL’s Player Engagement Department. Way headed the Giants’ player development duties since 2000.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy,” said Tyree, a native of Montclair, NJ. “I guess you could say it’s a second homecoming.’’
This is not a hiring without some controversy. Back in 2011, Tyree made strong statements opposing gay marriage, expressing his belief that “God created and ordained marriage between a man and a woman. I believe that’s something that should be fought for at all costs.’’
After hiring Tyree on Tuesday, the Giants put out a statement saying: “He was expressing his personal view, and that is not the view of the Giants organization.’’
The Human Rights Campaign, an organization that works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights, blasted the Giants for the hiring.
“The New York Giants are risking their credibility by hiring someone who publicly advocates this junk science,’’ the HRC said in a statement.
The HRC also is appalled by Tyree’s belief “that a person can change their sexual orientation,’’ calling that belief “ludicrous.’’
Tyree played for the Giants from 2003-2008, a lightly regarded receiver from Syracuse who established himself as a Pro Bowl special teams player. He is famous, of course, for his pinned-to-the-helmet catch for a key 32-yard gain in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XLII. Four plays later, Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown to lead the Giants to a stunning upset of the previously unbeaten Patriots.
Tyree kept close ties with the Giants, and spent the past two years working in player engagement in the NFL office.
“We are pleased to have David back in the building as the new leader of our Player Development Department,” general manager Jerry Reese said. “We interviewed four outstanding candidates to replace Charles, but at the end of the day David was a perfect and natural fit.”
Tyree was always a favorite of Tom Coughlin’s.
“Player engagement has become extremely important in any franchise,” Coughlin said. “It is the working relationship with the players to aid them in their continuing education, their development as young men, the opportunities in the business world and in networking in the city that they happen to be playing in. It is there to help instruct them, make them aware of the issues and the problems that exist out in the community and the world to try to keep them focused on their job and not fall into trouble.’’
Continuing a tradition that Way started, Tyree will be on the practice field and will work with the offense.
“He’ll be in all of my meetings,” Coughlin said. “He’ll be in all of our team meetings and he’ll certainly have an opportunity to contribute on the field, whether it is special teams or whatever.”