From 1989–2003, Girardi played for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. After a spring training stint with the Yankees in 2004, Girardi retired and became a commentator for the YES Network.

In 2006, he became the manager of the Florida Marlins and was named National League Manager of the Year. In 2007, Girardi returned to the broadcast booth as a Yankees analyst. The next year, he signed on to be the next manager of the Yankees. In his second year as manager (2009), he led the Yankees to their 40th AL pennant and their 27th World Series title.