Eli Manning memories: On eve of Hall of Fame announcement, BBV writers share their favorites

Will Manning be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

We find out on Thursday night whether or not legendary former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will be a first-ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Manning, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, is one of 15 finalists. The five members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced Thursday night, Feb. 6 during ‘NFL Honors.’

In the meantime, rather than asking our staff to discuss Manning’s Hall of Fame worthiness, I thought it would be fun to ask for favorite memories/recollections/thoughts in regards to Manning’s 16-year career.

So, below are some of those.

A couple of deep cuts

Not the helmet catch - Eli did a great job avoiding the sack, but it was only third down, it was an unnecessary risk, and he was lucky not to be intercepted. Not Manning-to-Manningham - that was arguably the greatest pass in Super Bowl history, but it only got them to midfield. My three are more idiosyncratic:

• The game-winning back-pedaling TD pass to Amani Toomer in 2005 against Denver. Eli was mostly terrible when he took over as starter midway through 2004, and he hadn’t yet done much in 2005 even though the Giants were 3-2. That last minute win against a 5-1 Broncos team that would go 13-3 was the first time I felt that he might be “the guy.”
• The game-winning fourth-and-1 66-yard TD to OBJ in 2016 against Baltimore. The Ravens had embarrassed Eli as a rookie; this was payback. Beckham had 2 TDs and 222 yards that day, but that play was a thing of beauty - a standard slant-flat that caused a rub between the safety and cornerback, but Eli threw as soon as OBJ made his cut, anticipating he’d be open, and he was gone. Greg Gumbel’s spare call (“Manning on the slant...Beckham!... Beckham!...touchdown!”) was perfect.
• The 2011 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco. It wasn’t Eli’s best day stat-wise, but he took an absolute beating (7 sacks, 7 QB hits) from the 49ers’ pass rush all game and heroically hung in there. The image of him getting up after one hit, sod on his helmet and pads sticking out of his jersey as he called for a time-out, is the enduring symbol of that game and perhaps of his career.

— Tony DelGenio

A single image says it all

How do you pick a single moment or memory out of a 16-year career?

When I think of Easy E, one image always comes to mind first:

The closing minute of the 2011 NFC Championship, Eli gets absolutely drilled... planted... buried by Aldon Smith after just getting the ball to Amahd Bradshaw. It was more hit in a game full of brutal hits that would have tested the fortitude of anyone.

Yet Eli gets up, a piece of the muddy field stuck in his facemask and his chinstrap up around his nose. Yet, unflappable as always, Eli...