If the Giants are looking for a general manager with vision, they can do much worse than hiring someone who comes from the Raven’s famous “20/20 Club.” On Saturday, they interviewed a candidate with such credentials.
Joe Hortiz, 46, Ravens ‘director of staff, was the seventh potential general manager to speak virtually with the Giants’ ownership of the week-old vacancy and one of the most convincing. He has worked for the same team for nearly a quarter of a century, rising in the organization from a staff assistant in 1998 to one of the top executives in the organization.
Although Hortiz is considered by many to be among the most avid evaluators in the league, his 20/20 Club pedigree has nothing to do with his views. It stems from his inclusion in a group of young, eager front-office staff who have been cared for under former general manager Ozzie Newsome and current general manager Eric DeCosta. The term comes from the fact that they are hired in the 20s for low wages ($ 20,000 per year). DeCosta even started in such a way with Ravens in 1996.
During Hortiz’s tenure in Baltimore, the Ravens have been one of the most stable and consistent teams in the league, winning two Super Bowls (including one against the Giants) and reaching the offseason 13 times in the last 22 years. Although Hortiz is the only candidate whose current team did not reach the playoffs this season, the Ravens’ ability to rebuild their list with very few breaks through the draft has long been admired from afar by the Giants.
Hortiz was the Ravens’ director of college scouting from 2009-18, overseeing the draft process before being promoted to his current title. During that time, the Ravens selected 14 Pro Bowlers. The Giants picked five in the same period.
The Giants have two more first-round interviews scheduled for Monday when they face Adamers and Ran Carthon of the 49ers. Then they will begin personal conversations with finalists for the job.
Tom Rock started covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and has been the Giants beat writer since 2008.
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