Eli Manning: The Hall of Famer?

The Manning Crest

Despite the immense expectations the Manning name held in the football world, Eli refused to shy away from the pigskin.

Unfortunately, Cooper’s football career ended before it began. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning went No. 1 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. As we all know, Peyton would go on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. But where was Eli’s place in all this? Well, he had to make his own space.

A Manning, in New York?

April 24, 2004, was a day that football fans would not soon forget. Even now, almost 22 years later, the names Rivers and Manning will forever be tied together when it comes to the NFL draft. Although Eli Manning was bound to be the No.1 overall pick in 2004, he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, who drafted him regardless of Manning’s warnings not to do so.

By the time the Giants’ 4th overall pick rolled around, they methodically drafted Phillip Rivers and, within the hour, traded him and three draft picks for Manning alone. The job was done. Eli Manning was indeed a New York Giant.

Finding His Footing

Manning made his NFL debut against the Philadelphia Eagles. On September 12, 2004, Eli came off the Giants’ bench to replace a middle-aged Kurt Warner in the 4th quarter of a 31-10 football game against the Eagles.

Manning completed an underwhelming 3-of-9 passes for 66 yards in a game the Giants lost 31-17. Regardless of the small sample size, it was not the ideal start for the so-called savior of the franchise.

Luckily for Big Blue, Eli put in the work, and the following year, in 2005, Eli led the Giants to an 11-5 record, which was good enough for a playoff berth. Although New York ultimately fell to the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card that year, Eli Manning had irrefutably led the Giants to their best season in years.

A Hall of Fame Season

There’s little reason to dwell on the matter because even now, nearly 20 years later, the 2007 NFL season is ingrained in every NFL fan’s mind, whether they like the Giants or not. Following an unimpressive 8-8 finish in 2006, Eli Manning led the Giants to a generational Cinderella season.

Eli finished the 2007 season with a 10-6 record, 3,336 yards through the air, 23 passing touchdowns, and a 56.1% Cmp%. Those aren’t exactly Hall of Fame numbers. Yet, that 10-6 record was enough to earn the Giants the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. At the end of the day, it’s not about how a QB starts a season. It’s about how a QB finishes it.

‘Easy,’ Eli didn’t finish well. He finished flawlessly. The blood in his veins turned ice cold. Through four playoff games in the 2007 postseason, Eli Manning threw for 854 yards and six touchdowns, completed 60.5%, and committed only one turnover. The Giants traveled to Florida and cruised to a 24-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winning didn’t stop there. Big Blue flew to Dallas, where Eli inevitably beat Tony Romo and Co. in a thrilling 21-17 win for New York.

Those who know, know. The 2007 New York Giants never won with ease. There had to be drama. The 2007 NFC Championship was just that. The G-Men were heavy underdogs to the No. 2 seed Green Bay Packers. But they had just beaten the No. 1 seed Cowboys. With Eli Manning under center, anything was possible.

The Green Bay Packers were led by NFL legend Brett Favre, who came second in MVP voting that regular season. If Manning didn’t already have ice in his veins, he did that cold January night in Green Bay. The weather was minus 1 degree Fahrenheit.

In a back-and-forth game, it fell on Eli Manning once again. With a dominant game from Plaxico Burress, Eli led New York into field goal range on a game-winning drive. Lawrence Tynes drilled a 47-yard field goal in overtime to win it 23-20.

A Giant Upset

You know the rest. February 3, 2008, was a defining moment in NFL history. The 18-0 Patriots were one win away from a perfect season. With the greatest QB ever, Tom Brady, under center, New England was told it’d be a cakewalk. Tom Brady didn’t know what he was in for. The Giants’ defense famously held Brady’s seemingly unstoppable offense to 14 points. Yet with 2 minutes, 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Giants were down four points.

On came Captain Clutch: Eli Manning. As the clock wound down, Eli moved the chains with the help of Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress. Unfortunately for New York, on second and 5 with 1 minute, 20 seconds left, Eli threw an incomplete pass intended for David Tyree. The situation was far from ideal. Yet with media pressure and an entire city ready to eat him alive at the slightest error, Manning stayed calm.

The very next snap, he finished a play that altered football history. On third and five with one minute, 15 seconds left, New England’s defense wrapped Eli up instantly. Manning refused to go down. He kept his feet pumping. Eli broke free from New England DEs Jarvis Green and Richard Seymour. He then slung the football 32 yards downfield. David Tyree jumped. He clung to the ball with his helmet. The play would later be called “The Helmet Catch.”

Eli finished off the drive with a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. Eli Manning was a Super Bowl champion. He’d beaten Tom Brady.

A Career Built for Canton

Eli wasn’t done after 2007. He did it all over again. Four years later, Manning had another chance to prove himself. The 2011 season became one of the best of his career. Eli threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns. He led the Giants to a 9-7 record and another playoff run. New York stomped out the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers. The Giants were heading back to the Super Bowl on the back of Eli Manning.

Waiting for them was Tom Brady. Again. And again, Eli delivered. He threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns. The Giants beat the Patriots 21-17. Eli Manning was a two-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Super Bowl MVP. But Eli’s case isn’t just about two playoff runs.

He finished his career with 57,023 passing yards, 366 touchdowns, and 210 consecutive starts. He ranks 11th among the NFL’s all-time leaders in passing yards and touchdowns. For 16 seasons, Eli Manning was the face of the New York Giants. He delivered two championships, two Super Bowl MVPs, countless fourth-quarter comebacks, and some of the biggest moments in franchise history.

Eli Manning wasn’t perfect. He didn’t need to be. When the lights were brightest, he simply won. And won. Beating Tom Brady twice on the biggest stage. He brought two Lombardi Trophies back to New York. And when the moment called for Captain Clutch, Eli Manning answered. Let’s not forget Eli’s elite humor either.

Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer.