And why this is a hill I will die on.
Just say the name Eli Manning in any social setting, in any part of the country, and you’ll get a wide range of reactions. Now say, “Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer,” and watch NFL fans completely lose their minds. It’s one of the few statements guaranteed to start an argument at a bar, a family dinner, or anywhere football fans gather.
Earlier this week, the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists were announced which was a stacked list of 15 names that reads like an NFL history book. Drew Brees. Larry Fitzgerald. Frank Gore. Jason Witten. Adam Vinatieri. And yes, our very own Eli Manning.
Only five modern-era players will be selected, and each must receive at least 80% approval from the voting committee. This marks the second time Eli has reached finalist status. And somehow, despite everything we’re about to discuss, people are still debating whether he belongs.
So let’s talk argue about it some more.
Making the Case
If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s arguments built entirely on emotion while pretending to be logical. Even worse are the people who cherry-pick stats to fit whatever narrative they already decided on.
You’ve heard the go-to line:
“If you take away the two Super Bowls…”
No. You don’t get to do that. You can’t remove the most important part of a quarterback’s career just because it’s inconvenient to your argument. Those games happened. The rings exist. The MVP trophies exist. Facts don’t disappear just because it doesn’t fit your narrative.
Eli Manning is one of the rare quarterbacks in NFL history to win two Super Bowl MVPs. That alone puts him in elite company. Even rarer? Both of those wins came against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Teams that were heavily favored and chasing history. 18-Choke anyone?
And yes, those losses still haunt Brady. He’s admitted as much himself. The Giants didn’t just win two Super Bowls they stopped a dynasty from adding two more. Frankly, the rest of the league should be sending Eli thank you notes because how much more obnoxious would that fanbase be with two more Superbowl wins?
You’re welcome.
The Resume
Eli Manning was the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and spent his entire 16-year career with the New York Giants which is a rarity in the modern NFL. He started 236 regular-season games, including an ironman streak of 210 consecutive starts, never missing time due to injury. Love him or hate him, availability matters. And if it’s one ability that matters most? It’s availability.
Statistically, Eli retired with over 57,000 passing yards and 366 touchdown passes, finishing his career comfortably inside the league’s historical top tier. Within the Giants organization, he still owns or shares dozens of franchise records, including completions, 300-yard passing games, and postseason production.
In the playoffs, he elevated his play even further. Across his two Super Bowl runs, Eli threw 15 touchdowns to just one interception, delivering clutch performance after clutch performance when the stakes were highest. His postseason numbers aren’t padded, they’re precise.
And yes, the Helmet Catch drive is forever etched into NFL history. You don’t get moments like that without the quarterback at the center of it.
“He Was Just Along for the Ride” (No, He Wasn’t)
One of the lazier arguments against Eli is that his success came from the talent around him. That idea falls apart pretty quickly when you look at context.
The Giants’ defenses during their Super Bowl runs were not historically dominant units. In 2007, the defense ranked 17th. In 2011, it ranked 25th. Offensively, those teams were solid but not unstoppable. Neither roster was considered a juggernaut heading into the playoffs.
What they did have was a quarterback who got better when it mattered.
“Playoff Eli” wasn’t a nickname pulled out of thin air. It was earned. He became calmer, sharper, and more dangerous in January. Road games didn’t faze him. Pressure didn’t rattle him. He made throws that don’t show up in regular-season stat arguments but absolutely decide championships.
You can’t spell elite without Eli and yes, that still applies here.
The Counterarguments (in the spirit of fairness)
Are there blemishes? Of course.
Eli finished his career with a .500 win-loss record. He led the league in interceptions three times. He wasn’t an All-Pro darling and only made four Pro Bowls.
But Hall of Fame voters don’t evaluate quarterbacks in a vacuum. They evaluate impact, legacy, and moments. And he has certainly given the NFL some of it’s most memorable moments.
No one is claiming Eli Manning is the greatest quarterback of all time. That title belongs to Tom Brady. But here’s the thing. If you beat the GOAT twice on the biggest stage, what does that make you?
A GOAT slayer.
The Final Verdict
Try writing the history of the NFL without mentioning Eli Manning.
You can’t.
He’s woven into some of the most iconic moments of the modern era. He represents loyalty, durability, and the kind of postseason excellence franchises spend decades searching for.
In true Eli fashion, he’ll probably shrug off the criticism, just like he shrugged off pass rushers in January games when everything was on the line. Fans may care more about his Hall of Fame case than he ever will.
But the evidence is there.
Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer.
Once a Giant, always a Giant.
