The Giants are making a significant front office move, bringing in a seasoned NFL executive with deep league ties and decades of experience. Dawn Aponte, who most recently served as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations, is joining New York as a senior vice president in a role that mirrors her league office responsibilities.
Aponte steps in to replace longtime Giants executive Kevin Abrams, who was let go earlier this offseason after decades with the organization. Abrams was a key figure in handling contracts and salary cap management - a role that now shifts to Aponte, whose background in that exact area is as deep as it gets.
This isn’t Aponte’s first time in a team front office. She started her NFL journey back in 1994 as an accountant with the Jets and steadily climbed the ranks in football administration. By the time she left the Jets, she was the senior director of football administration - a title that speaks to her expertise in managing the complex financial and operational aspects of running a team.
From there, she took her talents to the league office in 2006, and then to front office stints with the Browns and Dolphins, where she held senior executive roles. Her name has even surfaced in GM conversations over the years - a testament to the respect she commands around the league.
Since 2017, she’s been a key figure at the league level, overseeing football operations from 30,000 feet. Now, she returns to the team side with a wealth of institutional knowledge and a reputation as one of the most capable minds in the business.
For the Giants, this is more than just a front office shuffle - it’s a strategic move to bring in a proven leader with a deep understanding of both the salary cap and the inner workings of the league itself. Aponte’s presence adds gravitas to the Giants’ football operations, and her experience could be a major asset as the team navigates roster building, contract negotiations, and the ever-evolving landscape of NFL business.
This hire signals a clear intent: the Giants are looking to sharpen their front office edge with one of the league’s most respected executives.