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Jordan Raanan, ESPN writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eli Manning has faced skeptics before. Entering the 2007 playoffs, when the quarterback led the New York Giants on a Super Bowl run that ended in an upset victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots, there were questions about whether he was cut out for pressure situations.
It’s funny to know the final result. But former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber said before the wild-card game against the Giants in that season’s playoffs that Manning “can be caught, we know that.”
Manning was error-prone at that point in his career, but not that afternoon. He threw a pair of touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 24-14 victory over the Bucs for the first playoff victory of his career. It wouldn’t be the last. Manning threw six touchdown passes and one interception that postseason, leading the Giants to a Super Bowl victory and earning MVP honors in a historic comeback victory over the Patriots.
You might expect the skeptics to have disappeared by then. But they returned for the “Is Eli Elite?” debate a few years later. All Manning did in response was win another Super Bowl, another Super Bowl MVP, all while beating Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots (again).
The debate surrounding Manning’s candidacy for the American Football Hall of Fame is not that different from his playing career. As he stands on the precipice of Canton as one of 25 semifinalists for the Class of 2025, it’s far from easy for Manning to be drafted during his first year of eligibility.
ESPN, also owner of the Manningcast on “Monday Night Football,” recently conducted a poll of 10 HOF voters. Seven thought Manning would get into the Hall…eventually. Only two were confident that he would be elected on the first ballot. Two others thought he had a chance to get in this year, but anticipate he will encounter some resistance.
The bottom line is that there are different opinions on the lightning rod quarterback. He has one of the strangest resumes of all time: moderate regular-season success, historic postseason success, all built around incredible durability and intangibles.
His brother Peyton was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2021. His candidacy was never in doubt. Peyton Manning is considered by many to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
“It’s not Peyton [Manning] where you can say their name and put the microphone down,” said one voter.
The Manning case
When Manning won his second Super Bowl, it seemed like the conversation was over. He had won two Super Bowls in four years and threw 15 touchdown passes and one interception during those two playoff runs.
This is Manning’s main argument for induction. Manning performed better on the biggest stage under greater pressure. Not only does he have two Super Bowl MVPs, but he also led two last-minute game-winning drives in those games.
“In my opinion, he’s the best big-game quarterback I’ve ever known,” said Manning’s former coach Tom Coughlin. “He has performed incredibly well under those circumstances.”
That alone might be enough. No Hall of Fame-eligible player has that level of Super Bowl achievement on his resume and it’s not in the Hall.
“I will support his bid to go to the Hall of Fame as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2025,” said ESPN reporter and Hall of Fame voter Sal Paolantonio. “He has two Super Bowl MVPs and the list of retired quarterbacks with two Super Bowl MVPs is very short: it’s Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady and… Eli Manning. That’s the list.
“And three of them [Starr, Montana and Bradshaw] They are inside. We know Brady is going to come in. Eli has to go in. And all three were first-ballot Hall of Famers. “Eli should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
The other main point raised by Manning’s supporters is his numbers. He was seventh all-time in completions (4,895), passing yards (57,023) and touchdowns (366) when he retired.
By itself, this probably wouldn’t be enough. But combine it with those two magical playoff runs and it creates a solid and unique resume.
Manning also displayed uncommon durability throughout his career by never missing a game due to injury. It might have been his best feature. As they say, the best skill is availability. Manning made 210 consecutive starts from 2004 to 2017, the third-longest streak in NFL history behind Brett Favre and Philip Rivers. Even when that ended, it wasn’t because of an injury.
Some voters made comments that Manning could benefit from having played in New York and being the ultimate pro. As one voter said, if the way you handle yourself as a teammate was a trait used against wide receiver Terrell Owens, it would probably be used to support Manning’s candidacy.
The case against Manning
As one voter described it, the “obstacles are important” for Manning. Maybe not necessarily to make it to the Hall of Fame, but to make it on his first try.
They begin with the belief that Manning was not among the top three players at his position for a significant period of his career. In reality, you can argue that he wasn’t one of the three best quarterbacks in any specific year throughout his 16-season career. Manning never finished higher than sixth in QBR in a single season. He finished in the top 10 twice (2008 and 2009).
Manning was never an All-Pro either. This is problematic for some. Of course, he played in an era dominated by Brady, his brother Peyton, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Still, the likes of Tony Romo, Cam Newton and Carson Palmer snuck in at least one All-Pro nod. Eli Manning had zero, with four Pro Bowl selections. This hurts the eyes of several voters.
So does his overall record. Manning went 117-117 in the regular season, a record that suggests mediocrity rather than Hall of Fame worthiness.
One name that will come up during the conversation about Manning is undoubtedly former Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett. He is the only other two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback not in the Hall of Fame, even though he won a Super Bowl MVP.
For some voters, Manning could be the modern-day Plunkett. Modest record in the regular season (72-72), two final wins, many interceptions (198). It was noted on multiple occasions during our survey conversations that Manning led the NFL in interceptions three times during his career and was 12th all-time in that category with 244 when he retired.
For detractors, that doesn’t translate to the Hall of Fame.
the process
Manning was named among the Hall of Fame’s 25 modern semifinalists last week. That list will be narrowed down to 15 finalists later this year before the entire selection committee meets, discusses and votes at the annual meeting before the Super Bowl to decide the Class of ’25.
Players must be approved by 80% of voters to enter, and three to five players can run as Modern Era candidates.
For Manning and several other first-time candidates on the list, such as linebacker Luke Kuechly and safety Earl Thomas, it’s not as simple as “Are you a Hall of Famer?” on the first try. A lot depends on who else is eligible this year.
Strong candidates like tight end Antonio Gates (six All-Pro selections), defensive end Jared Allen (four first-team All-Pros), offensive tackle Willie Anderson (four All-Pros) and wide receiver Reggie Wayne (three All-Pros). ) are vestiges. As one voter mentioned, the stagnation between wide receiver and offensive line in recent years could make things difficult for newcomers.
There’s no shame in Manning not being a first-round Hall of Famer. It is more a reflection on the process than on the individual. Heck, former Giants star Michael Strahan is among those who didn’t make it on his first try, despite six All-Pro selections and the single-season sack record on his resume. Strahan was elected in his second year of eligibility.
The general consensus seems to be that Manning will eventually make the Hall, even if it’s not this year.
“It’s very, very worthy. It will happen,” Coughlin said. “The question is when.”
