The Giants are hiring NFL chief football administrative officer Dawn Aponte as a senior vice president of football operations and strategy.
John Harbaugh’s shakeup of the organization started with a reassignment of head athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes and the news that senior VP of football operations and strategy Kevin Abrams would not be returning.
The understanding was that Harbaugh would be bringing in his own executive, and Aponte appears to be that choice. ESPN first reported her hiring.
Aponte has been a prominent NFL representative since 2017, but she worked on the team side prior with the Jets, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins.
Abrams worked with the Giants’ salary cap, and Aponte would be expected to dip into that side of the operation based on her experience.
Most notably, Aponte and Giants GM Joe Schoen both worked for the Dolphins organization from 2010-16. So it will be interesting to see whether Aponte’s hiring will function as a bridge built between Harbaugh and the GM.
Aponte is an executive with RSE Ventures, an international sports, entertainment and tech firm co-founded by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and club vice-chairman Matt Higgins prior to joining the NFL.
The Giants are navigating a turbulent time, starting with co-owner Steve Tisch’s prominent appearance in the Epstein Files.
Harbaugh is in the process of continuing to try to fill out his football staff as the franchise tries to dig itself out of its constant losing and dysfunction.
