Even at 68 years old, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman believes he can still change his ways.

Despite a successful resumé, Gettleman maintains testy relationships with many of his former players. As he attempts to rebuild the Giants, Gettleman is one of the most heavily criticized executives in the league. Among fans, he is one of the most contested figures in the organization.

Gettleman believes he can change all that.

“There are times where my bedside manner hasn’t been the best. People will tell you that millennials want honesty,” Gettleman told Sports Illustrated. “Sometimes I’ve been a little too abrupt and to the point. And I think it’s because I’ve never been a pussyfooter. I’ve never dallied around. … Maybe there has to be a softer, kinder Dave Gettleman. Yeah, I’m 68, but I’m not an old man falling down. I’d like to think that I can learn, that I’m agile and can still learn.”

As general manager of the Panthers, Gettleman built off a young core and developed the team into one of the league’s best. In 2015, the Panthers went 15-1 and reached the Super Bowl. During his tenure in Carolina, however, he cut franchise legend Steve Smith, rescinded Josh Norman’s franchise tag and played hardball with Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen when they were seeking new contracts — all of whom now hold Gettleman in contempt.

While Gettleman hopes to soften his edges, he doesn’t plan on changing other aspects of his persona.

In New York, Gettleman’s selection of Daniel Jones to succeed Eli Manning was polarizing and he traded away a franchise-cornerstone receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. months after extending him. Gettleman drafted a running back in Saquon Barkley No. 2 overall at a time when the position has been devalued more than ever. It’s part of his defiance against analytics, a stance that has irked fans and insiders across the league.

“If that makes me a hater of analytics, because the analytic people say [you can plug and play whomever at running back], you can’t!” Gettleman said. “If that’s the reasoning, that I’ve become a doddering old fool that hates analytics … that’s OK.”

Beckham recently said he felt “disrespected” by the way he was dealt to the Browns. Landon Collins joked that he’d run Gettleman over if he saw him on the sidelines after the Giants opted not to re-sign the star safety.

Gettleman has heard all the jokes and criticism. He just doesn’t really care.

“People make fun of me. If it makes them happy, let them have it,” Gettleman said. “I don’t care. I just know I’m blessed. I’ve got the Lord and my family and I’ve got football.”