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Eli Manning has been named one of 15 player finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This is the second time in two years of eligibility that the former New York Giants quarterback has been a finalist.
Manning was left out of the Class of 2025 when only four players — defensive end Jared Allen, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, cornerback Eric Allen, and tight end Antonio Gates — were voted in.
Retired NFL columnist Gary Myers, one of the committee members, had this to say about the Manning decision a year ago:
“In the interest of full transparency, I voted for Eli Manning and spoke up for him at our meeting. I believe Manning beating the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl with two-minute drives and being named Super Bowl MVP each time, along with currently being 11th all-time in touchdown passes and yardage, presents a convincing resume,” Myers said. “To get selected in the future, the voters must get past that Manning was never All-Pro or regular season MVP and realize he played when those spots were not so available, playing in an era with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. Eli’s record was just .500, but Dan Fouts was only two games over .500, and Warren Moon was only one game over .500 — but neither made it to the Super Bowl. In fact, Moon never made it to a conference championship game. Fouts and Moon were each first ballot Hall of Famers.”
Manning was dropped from consideration a year ago when the Hall of Fame voting committee trimmed the finalists from 15 to seven before their final vote.
Manning’s path to being a finalist again may have been eased by Philip Rivers’ decision to return to playing for the Indianapolis Colts. Rivers forfeited his 2026 eligibility by being added to the Colts’ roster.
Manning’s path to being part of the Class of 2026 may be blocked by Brees, as well as by the belief many voters seem to have that Manning’s often pedestrian regular seasons preclude him from being Hall of Fame worthy.
Up to five Modern-Era players may be elected each year, each requiring an 80% yes vote.
Four players — Anderson, Holt, Kuechly, and Vinatieri — advanced automatically after finishing among the final seven in last year’s voting.
