Dawn

Aponte

The speculation comes from “a few league sources.” When John Harbaugh accepted the Giants’ head coaching role, he got it in writing that he would report to owner John Mara, not Schoen. After signing on the dotted line, Harbaugh hired NFL chief football administrative officer Dawn Aponte as the Giants’ new senior vice president of football operations and strategy. Per Leonard, “while Schoen is still running the scouting staff and working some phones, the bulk of the Giants’ operation otherwise reports to Aponte.” Schoen is in the final year of his contract and reportedly has a good relationship with some in the Giants’ ownership group, but his polling among players is not good. They reportedly gave his performance in March a D+ grade, which he refused to “give validity.” Perhaps he dazzles on Thursday, and this all becomes moot. For now, we suspect his seat is at least mildly warm, though.

Aponte was interviewed for the Chargers GM job in 2024 and also has worked for the Dolphins, Browns, and Jets. Her top experience level with the Dolphins was as executive VP of football administration, so it’s likely this role will be somewhat similar to that one. The NFL will have someone else reading draft cards on Day 2, sadly.

Aponte has spent years in NFL front offices. She was initially hired as an accountant by the Jets in 1994 and eventually worked her way up to Senior director of football administration. She also served as the Browns’ Vice president of football administration from 2009 to 2010 and worked with the Dolphins as Senior VP of football operations and Executive VP of football administration from 2010 to 2016. Should she land the Chargers’ GM job, Aponte would become the first woman to earn a GM role. She was mentioned as a potential GM candidate in an article written Scott Pioli, who most recently served as the Falcons’ assistant general manager (2014 to 2019).