Whether the Giants beat the Cowboys on Sunday or drop their season finale to Dallas at MetLife Stadium, the result does not matter.
Today’s game transcends the realm of football.
It serves as a poignant moment to honor John Mara, the co-owner and team president of the Giants, whose courageous fight against cancer starkly reveals the often-hidden human aspect of the sports industry.
At 71, Mara has guided the Giants, a franchise founded by his grandfather, Tim Mara, to two of their four Super Bowl victories. His dedication to the team is evident in the fervor he brings to the family business, embodying the spirit of a devoted fan.
John Mara is more than a team executive; he is a family man, a dedicated father, husband, and grandfather. His commitment to the team’s supporters is reflected in how he diligently reads and responds to fan emails, truly valuing their input.
While some might see his unwavering loyalty as a fault during challenging times for the Giants, it stands as a testament to his character in the relentless and high-pressure world of professional sports.
Regardless of whether the Giants are basking in championship glory or vying for the top draft pick, Mara’s steadfast passion and presence are a constant in the team’s headquarters, leaving a lasting impact on all who encounter him.
The Giants organization is synonymous with Mara’s values, priorities and personal touch.
They are unique in the NFL not just because they are a flagship franchise founded in 1925, but because Mara, as the heir to his late father, Wellington, grew into the role of being a conscience of sorts for the league.
He has served as a prominent presence on the NFL’s competition committee and chaired the league’s management council, working alongside commissioner Roger Goodell as a consistent and influential voice shaping the nation’s most popular sport.
He has frequently been as transparent, available and honest as any owner in the league, as well, and treats others with respect. And he is humble enough to answer as often to “John” as he does to “Mr. Mara.”
Mara’s passion, though, is the Giants. And nothing means more to him than a gameday, and the Giants’ fans, and delivering on the daily promise of trying to bring a championship back to New York.
So Sunday matters because it is a gameday, even though this season is coming to an unfortunate three or four-win end.
It matters because Mara is the heartbeat of this franchise, and he is ailing.
And while there is plenty of fan angst right now about the franchise’s fortunes and direction, Sunday is not the time to lose perspective because of football.
Reserve this one afternoon for a tip of the cap to the man who cares as deeply about the Giants as any of us.
Consider that Mara’s brother, senior executive Chris Mara, Mara’s nephew, director of player personnel Tim McDonnell and the entire Mara family — with the support of the Tisch family and new minority owner Julia Koch — and Mara himself are all working hard to try to get this right.
And that there is never any guarantee on how much longer any of us will have to do what we love. And that doing what he loves most is what John Mara will be doing on Sunday.
