Eli Manning Belongs In The NFL Hall Of Fame
The NFL recently announced the players nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class. The debate is finally here, is Eli Manning a Hall of Fame quarterback? The internet has been stirring up this conversation since Manning retired. Now it’s time to explore why Eli Manning should enter the NFL Hall of Fame.
The Obvious Highs And Lows
Eli Manning had plenty of success, but his career wasn’t without its failures. He ended his NFL run with a .500 record and posted a 366-244 TD-INT. Manning wasn’t always the best in the league, and his stats don't exactly scare defenses.
The immediate first argument here is that Manning has two Super Bowl wins. He’s a two-time Super Bowl MVP, one of only six players to win it more than once. He and the Giants also defeated the New England Patriots both times. New England was arguably at their peak during the 2007 season where they went 18-0 ahead of the big game. The Giants put an end to a historic season that year.
Consistency Is Key
Eli Manning played in an era with plenty of legends. Tom Brady, Bret Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and even his brother Peyton, and that's just the beginning. There was no room for mediocrity in this era, so how could Eli Manning stand apart from these guys? Consistency.
From 2004 to 2017, Eli Manning started 210 consecutive games. It’s the third-longest streak by a QB in history. The streak came to an end during a rough 2017 campaign. The coach at the time, Ben McAdoo, hoped a change at QB would turn things around, much to New York’s chagrin. Manning started 234 games with the Giants, the fourth most by a QB with a single team. He would end his career missing zero games due to injury.
Records And Achievements
Eli Manning holds nearly all of the Giants’ passing records. He has the most passing attempts (8,119), completions (4,895), yards (57,023), and touchdowns (366) to name a few. New York has seen some great QBs, from Phil Simms to Y.A. Tittle, none of which accomplished what Eli did.
As far as NFL records go, Manning is no slouch in that department. He holds the record for most passing yards in a single postseason (1,219). He also holds the records for most completions (103) and attempts (163) in a single postseason. He might not have been dominant, but Eli showed up when it mattered.
Beyond The Records
Eli Manning is a 15+ year NFL starter, who brought two Super Bowls to his franchise and always hit the field for his team. Even at the Giants’ lowest, Manning was a bright spot on and off the field. Most fanbases would kill for that kind of player.
There will always be an argument against Manning. There is no argument against his impact. Every week for 15 seasons, Giants fans knew they had their guy. He won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award and the Bart Starr award. His number 10 was also retired by both the Giants and Ole Miss. Not everyone will agree, but Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame quarterback.