{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{short description|American football administrator and attorney (born c. 1971)}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Dawn Aponte | image = <!-- Only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people -- see WP:NONFREE. --> | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team = New York Giants | position = Senior vice president of football operations and strategy | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|42|2014|1|25}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | high_school = Notre Dame Academy<br />(Staten Island, New York) | college = Delaware<br />Wagner College<br />New York Law School | pastadmin = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|1994|2001}})<br />Accountant * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2001|2003}})<br />Salary cap analyst and pro personnel assistant * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2003|2005}})<br />Manager of football administration * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2005}})<br />Senior director of football administration * National Football League ({{NFL Year|2006|2008}})<br />Vice president of labor finance * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2009|2010}})<br />Vice president of football administration * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2010|2012}})<br />Senior vice president of football operations * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2012|2016}})<br />Executive vice president of football administration * National Football League ({{NFL Year|2017|2026}})<br />Chief administrator of football operations * New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2026}}–present)<br />Senior vice president of football operations and strategy | highlights = }} '''Dawn Marie DiFortuna-Aponte''' (born {{circa|1971}}) is an American football administrator, accountant, and attorney. She is the senior vice president of football operations and strategy for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL), having served in the position since February 2026. She was the chief administrator of football operations for the NFL from June 2017 to 2026.
==Early years== Aponte was born {{circa|1971}}) grew up in Staten Island, New York.<ref name="Jan2014"/> She attended Notre Dame Academy. She went to the University of Delaware and graduated in 1993 with a B.S. degree in accounting.<ref name="Apr2013">{{cite news |author=Volin, Ben |title=Club's secret weapon is tough 'capologist' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52959690/the-palm-beach-post/ |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 14, 2013 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name=JD/>
==Professional career== While enrolled at Delaware, she interned with the New York Jets as an accountant, and took a full-time position in 1994.<ref name="Apr2013"/><ref name="Jul2002">{{cite news |author=Adams, Russell |title=BackTalk; A Season With an N.F.L. Salary-Cap Analyst |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/sports/backtalk-a-season-with-an-nfl-salary-cap-analyst.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 21, 2002 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She graduated from Wagner College in 1999 with an M.B.A. degree in finance and management, and received a Juris Doctor from New York Law School in February 2003.<ref name=JD>{{cite book |url=https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=commencement_progs |title=111th Commencement Exercises |date=May 21, 2003 |publisher=New York Law School |access-date=November 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Miami Dolphins 2012 Media Guide |url=https://media.miamidolphins.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2012-Media-Guide.pdf |website=MiamiDolphins.com |page=23 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> In May 2001, the Jets promoted her to salary cap analyst and pro personnel assistant.<ref>{{cite news |author=Battista, Judy |title=Jets Promote Salary-Cap Planner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/23/sports/plus-pro-football-jets-promote-salary-cap-planner.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 23, 2001 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She was promoted to manager of football administration in June 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52899435/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=June 3, 2003 |accessdate=June 6, 2020}}</ref> While with the Jets, she was mentored by Mike Tannenbaum, Bill Parcells, and Bill Belichick.<ref name="Apr2013"/> Aponte became the vice president of labor finance for the National Football League's management council in 2006,<ref name="Apr2013"/> and stayed in that position for three years.<ref name="Jan2014"/>
Aponte was the vice president of football administration and top contract negotiator for the Cleveland Browns in 2009.<ref name="Apr2013"/> She resigned from the team to become the senior vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins in February 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Browns, Dolphins make unusual trade |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52900002/the-sentinel/ |newspaper=The Sentinel |via=Newspapers.com |date=February 2, 2010 |accessdate=June 6, 2020}}</ref> She was promoted to executive vice president of football administration in 2012, and worked with general manager Jeff Ireland on player contract negotiations until 2014.<ref name="Apr2013"/><ref name="Jan2014"/> She began reporting to general manager Dennis Hickey when he was hired in January 2014.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jackson, Barry |title=A step towards unity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52961884/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=The Miami Herald |via=Newspapers.com |date=January 29, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> In 2014, Aponte was one of two female vice presidents on NFL teams, along with Katie Blackburn of the Cincinnati Bengals.<ref name="Jan2014"/> Mike Tannenbaum was promoted to executive vice president of football operations of the Dolphins in February 2015, and Aponte started reporting directly to owner Stephen M. Ross.<ref>{{cite news |author=Perkins, Chris |title=Hiring virtually fulfills forecast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52963228/south-florida-sun-sentinel/ |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |via=Newspapers.com |date=January 8, 2015 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She left the Dolphins in September 2016 to become a business development executive at RSE Ventures, a private investment firm founded by Ross.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hyde, Dave |title=Aponte leaves team for owner Ross' firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52964497/south-florida-sun-sentinel/ |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 7, 2016 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>
Aponte was hired by the NFL league office to become their chief administrator of football operations in June 2017.<ref name="Jun2017">{{cite news |author=Smith, Michael David |title=Former front office executive Dawn Aponte hired by league office |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/06/11/former-front-office-executive-dawn-aponte-hired-by-league-office/ |website=NBCSports.com |date=June 11, 2017 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She became the highest-ranked woman in NFL football operations with the appointment.<ref>{{cite news |author=Brady, Rachel |title=Samantha Rapoport, a Canadian, tackles the NFL's gender imbalance |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/samantha-rapoport-nfl-canadian-woman-tackles-footballs-gender-imbalance/article37827710/ |website=TheGlobeAndMail.com |date=February 1, 2018 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> On the third day of the televised 2020 NFL draft, she and NFL executive Dave Gardi replaced commissioner Roger Goodell in announcing draft picks from their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |author=Hayes, Marcus |title=Mr. Roger's neighborhood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52965478/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 25, 2020 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She continued announcing selections during the 2021 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=samrap10 |author=Rapoport, Sam |title=For the 2nd year in a row, Dawn Aponte, @NFL Chief Football Admin Officer, announces Draft selections. She is the only woman to ever do so and has spoken at the @NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum all 5 years to help ensure there is a strong pipeline of future Dawn Apontes. |number=1388428956395769857 |date=May 1, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref>
Aponte interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their general manager position in January 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Eric |title=GM Search: Chargers Confirm Interview with Dawn Aponte |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-general-manager-search-interview-dawn-aponte |website=Chargers.com |date=January 22, 2024 |access-date=January 23, 2024}}</ref>
The New York Giants hired Aponte as the team's senior vice president of football operations and strategy on February 4, 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Raanan |first1=Jordan |last2=Schefter |first2=Adam |title=Sources: Giants hiring NFL executive Dawn Aponte as senior VP |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47827138/giants-hiring-nfl-executive-dawn-aponte-senior-vp |website=ESPN.com |date=February 4, 2026 |access-date=February 11, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Salomone |first=Dan |title=Giants hire Dawn Aponte as senior vice president of football operations & strategy |url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-hire-dawn-aponte-as-senior-vice-president-of-football-operations-strategy-john-harbaugh-2026 |website=Giants.com |date=February 13, 2026 |access-date=February 13, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal== Aponte is married with four children.<ref name="Jan2014">{{cite news |author=Kaufman, Michelle |title=The woman in the middle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52960655/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=The Miami Herald |via=Newspapers.com |date=January 25, 2014 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> Aponte was a guest speaker at the NFL Career Development Symposium in May 2013.<ref>{{cite news |author=Beasley, Adam H. |title=Philbin to speak |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52959976/the-miami-herald/ |newspaper=The Miami Herald |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 18, 2013 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> She was named to the USA Football board of directors on October 17, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bradley, Bill |title=Miami Dolphins' Dawn Aponte added to USA Football board |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/miami-dolphins-dawn-aponte-added-to-usa-football-board-0ap2000000264899 |website=NFL.com |date=October 17, 2013 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref> In March 2016, she spoke at the first NFL Women's Career Development Symposium.<ref>{{cite news |author=Habib, Hal |title=Aponte accepts job's challenge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52964089/the-palm-beach-post/ |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |via=Newspapers.com |date=March 19, 2016 |accessdate=June 7, 2020}}</ref>
Jennifer Garner's character in the 2014 film ''Draft Day'' is loosely based on Aponte.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |author-link=Emily Kaplan |date=April 16, 2014 |title=How the Salary Cap Got Caught Up in a Love Story |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/04/16/nfl-draft-day-movie-jennifer-garner-women-sports-executives |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=SI.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aponte, Dawn}} Category:1970s births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Staten Island Category:University of Delaware alumni Category:Wagner College alumni Category:New York Law School alumni Category:American accountants Category:American women accountants Category:Women American football executives Category:New York Jets executives Category:Cleveland Browns executives Category:Miami Dolphins executives Category:New York Giants executives