PHOENIX — Times have a way of changing, quickly. Such is the case with general manager Jerry Reese as far as his standing in the Giants organization.

It is hyperbole to state Reese was on the hot seat after the 2015 season — the Giants’ third straight losing season — but the seat was getting warm. There was no cooling off after co-owner John Mara made it clear on the day the team was moving on from Tom Coughlin that “Jerry knows this is on him.’’

Yes, it was on Reese. He responded by spending $200 million of the owners’ money to fix the defense and, just like that, the Giants were again in the point-preventing business as they returned to the playoffs in 2016.

“There was a lot of heat on Jerry,’’ Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said Monday during a break at the Biltmore Hotel at the NFL Annual Meeting. “John Mara, my partner, made it very clear to Jerry, ‘We’re watching you and we have very high expectations, and it’s really your time to deliver, Jerry.’

“So the moves he made last season, clearly in retrospect, were hugely significant and really changed the whole defense of the team. I’m thrilled Jerry accepted the challenge, acknowledged what he had to do and he did it. That doesn’t happen every time. It doesn’t happen really all that often.’’

Mara, following a second consecutive 6-10 season, did not pull any punches laying down the gauntlet for Reese.

“You can’t hide from the record,’’ Mara said at the time. “It’s up to you now to get it fixed because the last three years are just not acceptable.”

Reese heard those words and signed Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon “Snacks’’ Harrison, three high-priced free agents who instantly upgraded the defense. All three worked out in spectacular fashion.

“So, Jerry has done a fantastic job,’’ Tisch said. “Looking forward to the draft next month, I’m very excited who we’re gonna add to the team.’’