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Eli Manning managed to get out of a situation with the then San Diego Chargers and found himself playing his entire NFL career with the New York Giants.
The 2004 move changed the trajectory of both franchises. The Chargers traded Manning to the Giants for Philip Rivers. The Giants would win two Super Bowl titles with Manning under center, while the Chargers haven’t been to a Super Bowl since the 1994 season.
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Eli Manning holds a San Diego Chargers jersey after being selected first overall by the Chargers and then traded to the New York Giants during the 2004 NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 24, 2004. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Manning spoke openly about why he decided to leave the Chargers. He would have gone to a team coming off a 4-12 season under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. He probably would have sat behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie instead of getting a chance to show what he had with the Giants while taking over the QB1 role over Kurt Warner.
“I just didn’t feel like they were the most committed team to winning at that time,” he said on an episode of “Bussin’ with the Boys.” “Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach, who was incredible. I had a lot of respect for him. But they came to train with me in New Orleans, they went to dinner and there was friction between the head coach, the general manager (AJ Smith), the owners (the Spanos family). Everyone was yelling, like they were fighting.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning stands in the tunnel before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on December 8, 2013. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)
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“We’re at a Marriott restaurant. Schottenheimer gets angry and says, ‘We’re in New Orleans and we’re eating at a Marriott?’ He’s like angry. They are some kind of fight. “It just didn’t seem like there was much agreement on things and they were committed to building a great winning franchise at that time.”
Manning said his parents didn’t support the idea of trying to avoid being drafted by the Chargers, but they allowed him to do what he wanted to do.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl MVP with the Giants. He led the defeat of the undefeated New England Patriots led by Tom Brady in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets in NFL history.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning poses with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants defeated the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 5, 2012. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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He finished with 366 touchdown passes and 57,023 passing yards. He ranks 11th all-time in touchdown passes and passing yards. He’s still waiting to hear his name called into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
