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Two-time Super Bowl-winning New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has reportedly fallen short of the votes needed to make it back into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Manning, who was in his second year as one of the 15 finalists of the modern era, missed the cut, according to The Athletic.
While it’s not the biggest Hall of Fame story of the week (Bill Belichick’s first-ballot ballot set the football world on fire), Manning has been a hot topic in Canton since he became eligible.
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Eli Manning of the New York Giants poses with John Mara during a press conference announcing the quarterback’s retirement on January 24, 2020 at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Many believe Manning will one day make the Hall of Fame, but there is another side to the argument that he shouldn’t.
The argument for the first is that Manning, the younger brother of Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, ranks 11th all-time in passing yards and passing touchdowns. And both of their Super Bowls came against the New England Patriots, defeating Belichick and Tom Brady to ruin their perfect 2007 season and 2011 campaign.
ELI MANNING PLATOS ON THE STATE OF THE GIANTS AFTER THE HIRING OF ‘INCREDIBLE’ JOHN HARBAUGH
But Manning finished his career with an even 117-117 overall record with the Giants, and was eventually replaced by Daniel Jones, whom the team selected to be the franchise’s next great quarterback. The smaller part of the argument against Manning is that while he has all those touchdown passes and yards, he led the league on three separate occasions in interceptions.
Looking at both sides, the pros seem to outweigh the cons, especially considering he is just one of six players in NFL history to have multiple Super Bowl MVP awards. Some of the other notables include Brady and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, who are already considered first-ballot Hall of Famers.
The other three are football royalty: Joe Montana, Bart Starr and Terry Bradshaw.
A former player, coach or executive needs at least 80% of the vote to enter. A 50-person panel, comprised of a media member from each pro football city, a 33rd member of the Pro Football Writers of America and up to 17 at-large delegates, control who heads to Canton and who stays outside the hallowed halls.
Eli Manning after being named MVP after Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, February 5, 2012. (IMAGE)
The entire Class of 2026 will be officially announced on February 5, 2026 during the NFL Honors special, which will be televised from San Francisco.
A modern-era player like Manning is eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot from his fifth year of retirement through his 25th year.
Manning remains involved with the game today, especially with his Giants. He has been a very valuable voice for the franchise despite not having any major titles. With the team’s new regime led by John Harbaugh, it remains to be seen what kind of impact Manning could have going forward.
“It couldn’t have worked out any better,” Manning told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview about hiring Harbaugh. “I met the Giants, and you said, ‘Hey, you need someone with head coaching experience and a guy who’s been in this situation, who knows how to deal with the New York media, who kind of takes over as CEO of not just the team, but the entire organization and the entire building around the Giants. The problem is, that person probably doesn’t exist. He’s not out there.’
Former NFL player Eli Manning speaks at halftime during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on October 13, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
“And then all of a sudden there’s John Harbaugh sitting there. He’s just incredible, a guy who’s had great success in the NFL. He just couldn’t be a better fit. I’m very excited for him, I’ve had long conversations with him about this, and I think he’s going to do an incredible job and be excited about getting the Giants back on track.”
While Manning waits to get his former team back on track, he will have to wait at least one more year before hearing his name called in the NFL Honors, signaling he may join his brother and the rest of the great members of the American Football Hall of Fame.
