Amid blowback over New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch’s appearances in the Epstein files, Tisch and his siblings are looking to transfer their ownership stake in the famed franchise to their children, according to ESPN.
The outlet reports:
New York Giants co-owners Steve, Laurie and Jonathan Tisch are requesting to transfer their stakes in the team to their children’s trusts, according to an NFL memo obtained by ESPN. The move is subject to approval by the league’s finance committee, the memo shows. If approved, Steve, Laurie and Jonathan Tisch would ‘no longer own any interest’ in the Giants, the memo states. ‘Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,’ states the memo, which is dated March 11. ‘The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.’
Last month, I wrote about questions the NFL has faced following the release of emails in the Epstein files that show Tisch asked sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein to connect him with women in 2013, years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor. The emails also showed that Tisch invited Epstein to attend multiple Giants games.
Tisch described his previous ties to Epstein as “a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy, and investments.”
“I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island,” Tisch continued. “As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
Josh Harris, an owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders franchise, also issued a statement denying ever having “an independent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein” after emails appeared in the Epstein files as well. Harris’ public statement noted, “As these emails indicate, Harris sought to avoid meeting with Epstein, canceling meetings and having others return his calls.”
Both are among numerous sports figures whose appearance in the Epstein files has brought unwanted attention — a list that also includes high-powered agent Casey Wasserman, who’s chairing the Los Angeles Olympics committee that’s planning for the Summer Games in 2028. Wasserman’s correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003 has resulted in the loss of clients to his talent agency to an extent that he decided to sell his firm and focus exclusively on the Olympics. Several Los Angeles officials have pressed him to resign from that as well.
Following the revelations, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell refused to launch an official investigation, saying instead that he would “follow any of the facts that come up and determine if we open an investigation based on those facts.” ESPN reported in late February that “Owners and team executives familiar with league processes told ESPN recently that they don’t perceive much urgency on the matter.”
This latest report about the Tisch family comes after speculation from some — such as sports business commentator and former Major League Baseball executive David Samson — that the NFL might want to negotiate some scenario in which Tisch stepped away from public-facing duties involving the Giants, rather than launch a probe of Tisch’s Epstein ties that might reflect poorly on the league.
Giants coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen have previously deflected questions and offered up platitudes when asked about Tisch.
Front Office Sports reported Wednesday that Tisch and his siblings expect to keep their executive roles:
The Tisch siblings will retain their front office roles with the Giants, a person familiar with the matter tells FOS. Steve is EVP and chairman of the board, Laurie is a board director, and Jonathan is the treasurer and a board director, according to the Giants’ website.
It’s unclear whether the league’s finance committee will approve a setup in which Tisch retains his leadership role with the Giants. It feels safe to say the league would likely benefit — at least, from a public relations perspective — if Tisch were no longer prominently involved with one of its most well-known franchises.
Ja’han Jones is an MS NOW opinion blogger. He previously wrote The ReidOut Blog.