Tim Mara

Lore & Background

Mara, the son of Elizabeth (née Harris) and John Mara, a policeman, of Irish descent, was born into poverty on New York City's Lower East Side. At age 13, he quit school to support his mother. His first job was as a theater usher, then as a newsboy. He became a runner for bookmakers, earning five percent of bets collected, and by age 18 was an established bookmaker himself. In 1925, NFL President Joseph Carr offered a franchise to boxing promoter Billy Gibson, who turned it down and referred Carr to Mara. Mara purchased the NFL franchise for New York for $500. He and Dr. Harry March signed Jim Thorpe to play several half games to boost attendance. During the Giants' first season, attendance was poor and Mara lost over $40,000. He tried to sign Red Grange but found he was already with the Chicago Bears; Mara then scheduled a game against the Bears at the Polo Grounds, which drew $143,000 in gate receipts, recovering all his losses. In 1926, Grange and C. C. Pyle formed the first American Football League with the New York Yankees. Mara increased player salaries by $50 a game and signed many to full-season contracts to prevent defections. He suffered $60,000 in losses that season. The Giants defeated the AFL champion Philadelphia Quakers 31–0 in the first inter-league post-season game, and the AFL folded. Mara later admitted the Yankees into the NFL and dictated their schedule. The Giants went 11-1-1 in 1927 and won their first NFL championship. In 1929, Mara bought the entire Detroit Wolverines franchise for $10,000 to acquire Benny Friedman. During the Great Depression, Mara agreed to a charity exhibition game against the Notre Dame All-Stars; the Giants won 21–0 and raised $115,153 for the New York City Unemployment Fund. Mara battled rival leagues including the Brooklyn Tigers, New York Yankees of the second and third AFLs, and the All-America Football Conference. When the AAFC partially merged after 1949, Mara demanded and got the best players from the combined New York-Brooklyn franchise. Mara died in 1959 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He left the Giants to his sons Jack and Wellington Mara, each inheriting a 50% stake.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Polo Grounds was thick with smoke and anticipation in the late 1930s. From the private box, Tim Mara watched the gridiron below, his eyes scanning the movement of players clad in heavy wool uniforms. The crowd roared as a touchdown was scored, but he remained calm, calculating the business implications alongside the glory. He knew that every victory on this field secured another season for the franchise. In that moment, surrounded by the noise of New York fans, Tim Mara saw not just a game, but the future of his life's work.

Reader's Guide

Tim Mara was the sole founding owner of the New York Giants in 1925, not co-founder with his brother. He never signed Red Grange to the Giants; Grange played for the Chicago Bears. Mara's key achievements include winning four NFL championships and successfully defending New York's pro football market against rival leagues.

Did You Know?

• Mara purchased the Giants franchise for $500 in 1925.
• He recovered his first-season losses after a single game against the Chicago Bears featuring Red Grange drew $143,000.
• Mara bought the entire Detroit Wolverines franchise in 1929 to acquire quarterback Benny Friedman.
• He raised over $115,000 for New York City's unemployment fund through a 1930 charity game against Notre Dame.