Giants legend Eli Manning refused first-ballot entrance in Pro Football Hall of Fame

Nothing came easy for Eli Manning during his 16-year-old NFL career, so it shouldn’t be surprising that New York Giant’s Legends Road to Hall of Fame is starting a bumpy start. Manning couldn’t secure enough votes to access Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year with eligibility.

The 2025 list of player inductors containing Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen and Antonio Gates, was announced on Thursday night at the NFL Honor’s show in New Orleans, the site of the Super Bowl Lix.

The doubters who existed throughout Manning’s play days are clearly still present among the 49 Hall of Fame voters. There are gaps in Mannings CV that are impossible to ignore. He was never an all-pro and only made four Pro Bowls. He completed his career with a .500 record starting (117-117). He led the NFL in interceptions three times.

These factors were probably the reason why Manning did not participate in the exclusive group of 16 quarterbacks that have been introduced on their first ballot. But Manning has credentials that should get him eventually.

Manning is one of six players with several Super Bowl MVPs. The Three Hall of Fame-Supported players from this group-Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Bart Starr-Var all first-ballot inductors. The other two players in the rarified class – Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes – will be unanimous choices, the moment they are eligible for induction.

This distinction should be enough to get Manning into the hall, even without taking into account one of these wins coming against the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl XLII. And then, four years later, Manning again led Giants over Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the tense patriots. Manning talked 15 Touchdown -Passes and two interceptions during the two Super Bowl races that contained five road gains.

An ordinary argument against Manning is that he was never considered one of the top quarterbacks in his era. But unlike quarterbacks with more impressive production in regular season, Manning traveled his game in the greatest moments. He writes two of the signature play in the Super Bowl history. His Heave to the wide receiver David Tyree produced “Helmet Catch” On the game -winning drive of the Super Bowl XLII. Manning’s Pinpoint 38-yard strike to Mario Manningham On the game-winning drive four years later, it is arguably the biggest throw in the Super Bowl story.

Mannings Autumn year -CV is strengthened by his production and longevity. He is currently 11. In a career -Touchdown -Pass and 11. In careers passing yards. He ranked seventh in both categories as he retired after the 2019 season.

Manning started 210 Straight starts from 2004 to 2017, the third longest stripe ever among quarterbacks. He never missed a game due to injury during his 16-year-old career.

Just as Manning’s candidacy gets a boost from the two magic Super Bowl races, the lack of team success over the second half of his career is a move. Manning only made the playoffs once after the Super Bowl XLVI, and he had a 48-67 record in his last eight seasons starting. The fact that Giants have gone 28-55-1 in the five seasons since Manning’s retirement had to put perspective in how much the guard plan had worsened around quarterback late in his career.

The challenge for Manning, when time goes by is that several of his friends will quantity the conversation when they are eligible for the Hall of Fame. Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers are eligible in 2026, followed by Ben Roethlisberger in 2027 and Brady in 2028.

Working against Manning is the stricter rules that Hall of Fame has recently introduced, which will certainly reduce the number of players.

Manning understands the debate about his polarizing career, but he is at peace with his inheritance.

“I don’t want to sell myself to this,” Manning told The athletic In September. “I can laugh and understand that people have their roof. I can understand both sides of the argument … If I am invited in, it would be a great honor. “

That invite characters to come to Manning. The question is when.

Required reading

• Eli Manning and Hall of Fame -Argument that may never disappear
• An evening of ‘manningcast’: voice memos, legendary comos help redefine NFL broadcasts
• Eli Manning on Giants’ QB situation, Hall of Fame, Potential Ownership and More
• Surprise trips to Augusta National and Epic Pranks: Former Giants share their preferred Eli Manning -Stories

(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)