John K. Mara is in his 34th season with the Giants. The franchise's President and Chief Executive Officer, he assumed the team presidency upon the passing of his father, Wellington Mara, in 2005. Mara joined the Giants in 1991 as General Counsel and later added the title of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mara, one of the NFL's most prominent and respected owners, is the chairman of the league's Management Council Executive Committee, and he played an important role in negotiating the 2011 and 2020 collective bargaining agreements with the NFL Players Association. He also serves on several other NFL committees, including for the last 24 years on the Competition Committee, which studies all aspects of the game and recommends rules and policy changes to NFL clubs. Mara also serves on the NFL's Health and Safety, Compensation, Workplace Diversity and Legalized Sports Betting committees.
Mara has been affiliated with the Giants his entire life. The franchise was founded in 1925 by his grandfather, Tim Mara. Wellington Mara was one of the most influential, respected and beloved executives in NFL history. Tim and Wellington Mara are both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Since John Mara joined the organization in an official capacity, the Giants have participated in 11 playoffs, won five NFC East titles, and played in three Super Bowls, winning two.
John Mara, Steve Tisch and Jonathan Tisch, as well as Jets owner Woody Johnson, headlined the bid committee that helped convince NFL owners to award Super Bowl XLVIII to MetLife Stadium. Seattle and Denver played in the game on Feb. 2, 2014. The first Super Bowl to be held in a cold-weather outdoor venue was an overwhelming success, both during the week prior to the game and on game day. Mara was also instrumental in bringing the 2026 World Cup to MetLife Stadium, including the finals to be played on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Born in New York City on Dec. 1, 1954, Mara grew up in Westchester County in White Plains and graduated from Iona Prep High School in New Rochelle. He attended Boston College where he received a B.S. degree in marketing, graduating with Cum Laude honors in 1976. Mara earned his law degree from Fordham University in 1979. He specialized in labor and employment law and litigation at two Manhattan firms prior to joining the Giants.
Mara serves on the Board of Directors of Saint Vincent's Hospital in Harrison, N.Y., Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York and the Newark, N.J. Covenant House Action Research Think Tank (CHART), which was formed to combat human trafficking.
John and his wife, the former Denise Walter, have five children and 14 grandchildren.
