Dave grew up in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston Latin School, where he played varsity football. He then attended Springfield College, where he earned a degree in education and played offensive tackle on the freshman football team. Gettleman has two master’s degrees: one in physical education from Southern Connecticut State in 1978, and another in sports administration from St. Thomas University in 1986.
He began his football career as a teacher-coach at Spackenkill High School in Poughkeepsie, New York. As the head coach from 1973–78 and 1980–81, Gettleman led his teams to two league titles, competing against schools twice the size of Spackenkill. He spent a season as a volunteer assistant at Cal State Long Beach in 1979. Gettleman joined the faculty of Kingston High School in 1982 and became the head coach in 1984, leading his team to a Section I Bowl berth.
From here Dave was hired in 1986 as a scouting intern for the Buffalo Bills. He spent the next seven years working in their scouting department before leaving to accept a scouting job with the Denver Broncos after the 1993 season.
In 1998, he was hired as a scout by the New York Giants, who promoted him to Pro Personnel Director the next year. In 2012, he was given the title of Senior Pro Personnel Analyst. In January 2013, he was chosen to become the general manager of the Carolina Panthers and in the 2015 season, the Panthers started 14–0, before falling to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.
During Gettleman’s tenure as general manager the Panthers compiled a regular-season record of 51–28–1. In that 5-year timeframe the Panthers advanced to the playoffs 3 seasons and won 3 NFC South titles.
On December 28, 2017, Gettleman was named as the new general manager of the New York Giants, returning to the Giants fold after six years. Dave has since retired following the 2021 season finishing his tenure with the Giants.
While every team Dave worked for played in a Super Bowl and even though he was named the NFL Executive of the Year in 2015, his greatest accomplishments continue to be the loving marriage to his wife of 38 years, Joanne, and the blessing of their 3 children – Aaron, Sam, and Ana Jane. The Gettleman’s are looking forward to serving in whatever way the Lord will use them in the coming years.