Chris Pettit is in his third season as the Giants' director of college scouting. Prior to being named to that position in 2018, he was an area scout for 13 years.
The Giants acquired several outstanding players in the three NFL drafts since Pettit assumed his current position. Running back Saquon Barkley, the team's first-round choice in 2018, set numerous franchise records, was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and is the only player in Giants history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. That draft class also included left guard Will Hernandez (who started all 32 games since joining the team), linebacker Lorenzo Carter (whose 4.5 sacks tied for second on the team in 2019) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (who set a franchise rookie record with 5.5 sacks).
In 2019, the Giants selected quarterback Daniel Jones sixth overall. Jones started 12 games and set franchise rookie records with 459 passes, 284 completions, 3,027 yards and 24 touchdown passes. The former records had all stood since Charlie Conerly set them in 1948. Jones' 24 touchdown passes led all rookie quarterbacks in 2019 and were the fourth-most by a rookie in a single season in NFL history.
Several other 2019 draft choices contributed in their inaugural season. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, the Giants' second first-round choice, started every game and should be a fixture on the defensive front for many seasons. Fifth-round choice Darius Slayton led the team with 740 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and finishing fourth with 48 catches. Third-round selection Oshane Ximines had 4.5 sacks. Another linebacker, Ryan Connelly and defensive backs Julian Love and Corey Ballentine also made important contributions.
In the 2020 draft, Andrew Thomas was selected fourth overall, and Xavier McKinney was taken in the second round, the first tackle and safety, respectively, to be chosen.
Pettit joined the Giants' scouting staff in 2005 after spending the 2004 season as a scouting intern for the team. He first worked for the Giants as a training camp pro personnel intern from 1998-2000.
Prior to joining the Giants, Pettit was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Huntington High School on Long Island, which won division championships in 2001 and 2003, and was the runner up in the Long Island championship in 2003.
Pettit spent the 2002 football season as an offensive assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, where he worked with the running backs and assisted in the preparation of scouting reports for upcoming opponents, as well as recruiting. Wisconsin defeated Colorado in the 2002 Alamo Bowl.
Pettit attended the University of Maryland on a lacrosse scholarship. He played on teams that reached the national finals in 1997 and 1998. Pettit graduated from Maryland with a bachelor's degree in sports management.
Pettit is a native of Long Island, N.Y. He and his wife Jill have two children Chris and Jessa.
