There is a time to strive and push and aspire and grind it out, hoping for, maybe expecting, great things and the big payoff. For 25 years, Dave Gettleman dreamed the dream, fought the good fight, enjoyed his victories, crafted a fine career in NFL personnel, largely unknown outside the circle but appreciated by his employer. Respected, yet unfulfilled.

It was time to give it up, to step off the carousel that kept spinning without him going anywhere. It was time to face reality: He never was going to be a general manager in the NFL.

“Look at the ages of these general managers that were getting hired,’’ Ernie Accorsi, the former Giants general manager, told The Post. “Dave was 61. He knew the chronology of his age.’’

Gettleman is now 64 and headed to his seventh Super Bowl — his first as an NFL general manager. His Panthers are 17-1 and favored to beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

The Giants feel a part of them will be out in Santa Clara, Calif.: their loyal, 15-year executive who livened up their offices with his thick Boston accent — he also could turn a phrase in Yiddish, befitting his Jewish upbringing — as he spit tobacco into a cup, preferred too-short shorts over his too-large stomach and wore flip-flops whenever possible.

“I couldn’t be happier for him that he’s having this kind of success now,’’ Giants co-owner John Mara said.

In his three years running the show in Carolina, Gettleman has made all the right moves. He decided — against the court of public opinion — to keep head coach Ron Rivera and jettison receiver Steve Smith, the face of the franchise. He fortified a burgeoning defense by drafting linemen Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, re-signed Cam Newton, took a budding star receiver in Kelvin Benjamin (who missed the entire 2015 season with a knee injury) and made smart free-agent calls on receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Jerricho Cotchery. Gettleman did all of this while lifting the Panthers out of salary-cap hell while making the playoffs all three years.

Gettleman prefers to stay out of the limelight, but he will receive plenty of attention this week — a journey he gave up on because he believed he never would have the chance, having been passed over four times for jobs he thought were within his grasp.

Heck, the Giants even passed over him. He had been an invaluable director of pro personnel, scouring the NFL for players. Mara and Accorsi were amazed when Gettleman recited the name, strengths and weaknesses of the fifth cornerback on the Seahawks without referencing his notes or turning on his laptop.

“He was undefeated with us on free-agent signings,’’ Accorsi said. “Whether it was a star like Plaxico [Burress] or Antonio [Pierce] or whether it was Shaun O’Hara and people like that. When we signed Antonio Pierce, he was playing the outside. We signed him as a middle linebacker, Dave was convinced he could play middle linebacker.’’

Accorsi was set to retire after the 2006 season and hoped his replacement would be from in house, touting Gettleman, Jerry Reese — who ran the NFL Draft — or Kevin Abrams, the salary-cap expert. Accorsi admitted he pushed Reese hardest of all, and Reese got the GM job.

“And I felt sorry for Dave on the thing, I don’t think it was an easy decision for John Mara or the Tisches,’’ Accorsi said. “When Jerry got it, I could tell Dave was down. I said to him, ‘Look, I have no idea if I’m ever going to be able to deliver on this, but if I possibly can take care of you, I will.’ ”

Lo and behold, Accorsi found a second career as a consultant, helping NFL teams find and hire head-coach and front-office candidates. The Browns needed a GM in 2009, and then-owner Randy Lerner sought Accorsi’s advice. Accorsi recommended Gettleman, but George Kokinis got the job — and lasted just six months. Gettleman interviewed with the Chiefs, but the GM position went to Scott Pioli. In 2010, Accorsi again pushed Gettleman on the Browns and thought this time would be the charm. Instead, they hired Mike Holmgren.

Gettleman walked into Mara’s office and told him he wanted to take a step back, asking Mara to promote assistant Ken Sternfeld, requesting to take more of a part-time role. Gettleman looked in the mirror. He was 61 and no one was going to name him their general manager. He might as well go quietly.

“He had gotten to the point where he thought that his chances of being a general manager were non-existent,’’ Mara said. “He had missed out on so many events with his own family. He actually got quite emotional telling me about it.’’

The Panthers fired GM Marty Hurney midway through the 2012 season, and owner Jerry Richardson called on Accorsi to help find the right man to lead his franchise. Accorsi provided four candidates and made it clear his first choice was Gettleman. Richardson and Gettleman hit it off right away, and the rest is history as the Panthers head to the Super Bowl.

“He is a great example of never giving up on your dreams,’’ Reese said.

“Professionally I feel great about recommending him, but personally I feel much better,’’ Accorsi said. “I couldn’t have been any happier for anybody than I was for him.’’