Eli Manning announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2019 season, meaning he will be eligible to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025. While the legendary NFL quarterback won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, there has been some debate about Manning’s legacy since he was never named to an All-Pro Team. PopCulture.com recently spoke to Manning about his chances of making the Hall of Fame, and it’s something he’s not thinking about at the moment.
“It’s one of those things you can’t get too worried about it,” Manning told PopCulture. “Everything’s been done that’s either going to get you in or prevent you from getting in. So I can’t go pad my stats or do anything now. Everything’s been done. So for me, just even to be considered amongst the list, if that happens, would be a great honor. To get in would be an unbelievable honor, to go be in the same conversations as some of the great players in this league. But for me, it’s not keeping me up at night being worried about it.”
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Manning led the Giants to Super Bowl wins during the 2007 and 2011 seasons. He beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in both Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP in both games. Manning is the only one of six players to win the Super Bowl MVP award multiple times with the other five being Brady (five), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two), Terry Bradshaw (two) and Patrick Mahomes (two). Montana, Starr and Bradshaw are in the Hall of Fame, Brady announced his retirement in February and Mahomes is still in the prime of his career.
Along with winning two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards, Manning was named to the Pro Bowl four times, ranks 10th all-time in passing yards (57,023) and 10th all-time in passing touchdowns (366). He is a member of the Giants Ring of Honor and his No. 10 is retired by the team.
While Manning awaits his place in Canton, Ohio, he’s enjoying spending time with his family. The 42-year-old is staying busy with his kids as they are playing multiple sports. “I think we’ve thrown them in every single sport possible and you just see which one sticks,” he said. “So for my oldest, it’s swimming and lacrosse are her favorite. We got tennis players, we got ice hockey players, field hockey, we got my little guys playing flag football, start some hockey this winter. So we’re in a bunch of sports. They’re all fun and it’s all about them being with friends, learning some of the great life lessons that you can learn through sports about teamwork and dedication and commitment and dealing with defeat, dealing with success. And so they’re figuring that out but having lots of laughs along the way.”
