Giants’ 2x Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning is ‘at peace’ after first-ballot Hall of Fame snub

Eli Manning is fine with his Hall of Fame snub, knowing his former rivals earned their spot.

Giants’ 2x Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning is ‘at peace’ after first-ballot Hall of Fame snub

Eli Manning (Image via IMAGO)

Sometimes gut feelings do come true, and in Eli Manning’s case, it became a reality. Fans, analysts, and presidents all have debated whether the former New York Giants quarterback should be a Hall of Famer (HOF) or not, but ultimately, adding a framed picture of the two-time Super Bowl winner in Canton was in the hands of the select few.

On February 6, three days before Super Bowl LIX between the Chiefs and the Eagles in New Orleans, Manning found out about his destiny of whether he would hang a golden jacket on his mantlepiece like the one in his older brother Peyton Manning’s house. No, he won’t.

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The 44-year-old wasn’t among the chosen few to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but Manning laughed it off. A day after, he was on Good Morning America, looking like his usual chirpy self because he had a gut feeling that he may not make it.

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I’m excited for those guys that got in. All of them are so deserving. Happy for them. I texted a few of them… congratulated them. I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be my night, and I understand that. And I’m totally at peace. It’s not going to change my outlook on my career and how I feel about it.

Eli Manning said
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Manning wasn’t fazed by the outcome because he was happy that four of his friends, whom he played against several times during his career, got in. Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, Sterling Sharpe, and Eric Allen are the four greats to write their names in the Hall of Fame class of 2025. It was the smallest class since 2005.

Don’t lose hope, Eli Manning

Manning may have won the same amount of rings as his brother and has one extra Super Bowl MVP, but he was less prolific compared to Peyton during his career. He managed a .500 record only eight times (winning seasons) in 16 seasons. On top of it, the youngest Manning lost his way at the tail end, winning just nine games from 26.

Giants' 2x Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning is ‘at peace’ after first-ballot Hall of Fame snub
Eli Manning (Image via IMAGO)

The biggest achievement in his football career was not winning two Lombardis, but stopping Tom Brady from securing two extra rings. In 2007 and 2011, the Giants defeated Brady’s New England Patriots, which he rubs in the 47-year-old’s face at every opportunity.

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Now, the question arises, has Eli Manning’s window of being part of the Hall of Fame closed? Certainly not. He failed to become a first-ballot HOF but he can get in on a later occasion, maybe next year (2026). However, there will be stiff competition from Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten, Frank Gore, and Philip Rivers.

Related: Matthew Stafford’s wife remains unhappy with Rams’ decision to trade Cooper Kupp