Chris Pettit is in his fourth 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 four 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. In 2019, the Giants selected quarterback Daniel Jones sixth overall. Jones' two-year totals are 907 attempts, 564 completions (62.2%) for 5,970 yards, 35 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The passes, completions and yardage totals are the most in franchise history through 27 games for a player who began his career with the Giants.
The Giants also had 10 selections in the 2020 draft and were one of six teams to receive at least one start from each of their first five draft choices. Andrew Thomas was selected fourth overall and Xavier McKinney was taken in the second round, the first tackle and safety, respectively, to be chosen. Thomas played in every game, starting 15, and joins fellow 2020 rookies Matt Peart and Shane Lemieux to form the nucleus of the Giants revamped offensive line. McKinney and fellow defensive back Darnay Holmes also started.
In 2021, the Giants added an impressive six-man draft class and three extra selections in the first four rounds of the 2022 draft, including the Chicago Bears' first-round selection.
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.
