Wellington Mara Ownership Legacy

Lore & Background

Wellington Mara, son of Tim Mara, inherited a 50% stake in the New York Giants after his father's death in 1959. His brother Jack Mara inherited the other 50%. Wellington Mara was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997, while his father Tim Mara had been inducted in 1963. His son John Mara is currently the Giants' president and part owner.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the asphalt outside the old office on 34th Street as Wellington Mara stared at a stack of letters from potential buyers. The NFL was changing, and everyone said New York was too expensive to sustain a team. He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote a single sentence that would echo through history: 'We are not going anywhere.' Outside, the city roared with traffic, but inside, the decision had been made; the Giants would stay, no matter the cost.

Reader's Guide

Wellington Mara's legacy is tied to the family's long ownership of the Giants, which began with his father Tim Mara purchasing the franchise in 1925. The Giants have been in the Mara family since then, with only the Chicago Bears having a longer continuous family ownership.

Did You Know?

• Wellington Mara was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997; his father Tim Mara had been inducted earlier, in 1963.
• Wellington Mara's son John Mara is currently the Giants' president and part owner.
• The Giants have been owned by the Mara family since 1925, but the Green Bay Packers have been community-owned since 1923, which is a longer continuous ownership structure.