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New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame snub caused an uproar from Big Blue fans. In his first year of eligibility, the franchise legend did not make it to the final ten of voting, which could make it harder to get into Canton next year. In the smallest class since 2005, the inductees included tight end Antonio Gates, cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.
It goes without saying that Eli Manning had a career that all New Yorkers will cherish. Selected No. 1 in the notorious 2004 NFL Draft, the former Ole Miss QB was dealt to the Giants in a historic trade with the Chargers. Manning played 16 years in the Meadowlands. The franchise made it to the playoffs six years during that span, including two legendary Super Bowl runs.
The first run was iconic. The Giants won three road games in the NFC to reach Super Bowl XLII. This included victories over a 13-3 Dallas Cowboys team that had beaten them earlier that season twice. Next came a win in the NFC Championship at Lambeau Field, which was played in a temperature below zero degrees. Brett Favre’s last game in a Packers uniform ended with a game-sealing 47-yard field goal by placekicker Lawrence Tynes.
Eli then went on to win his first Super Bowl MVP against the undefeated New England Patriots in one of the greatest games ever. This clash of David vs. Goliath featured a legendary two-minute drive in the fourth quarter by the Giants. On a third and five with 1:15 left in the game, Manning improbably evaded a certain sack to throw a 32-yard pass to David Tyree in what has been called by many pundits as the play of that decade.
New York claimed its third Super Bowl in franchise history that night in Glendale. The Giants won another title under Eli Manning a few years later, where he was more at the forefront of this run. In these four games, Manning threw for nine touchdowns and only one interception. Head coach Tom Coughlin’s team would eventually rematch the Patriots and win in another iconic clash. Manning won his second Super Bowl MVP to give the franchise its fourth championship.
The Giants’ leader under center had plenty of quality seasons between and after these Super Bowl runs. Therefore, there is a valid case for Eli to eventually join his brother Peyton in Canton. But that wasn’t the case in 2025, and here are our reasons for that.
It is tough to make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame upon first induction. And, honestly, there are way more decorated players than Eli Manning, who did not make it to Canton the first time they were eligible. This includes probably the second-greatest player in franchise history behind Lawrence Taylor: Michael Strahan.
To sum up the legendary defensive end’s career, he was a seven-time Pro...
