3 NFL teams Eli Manning should consider purchasing
Eli Manning officially retired at the conclusion of the 2019 NFL season. He spent his entire career as the quarterback for the New York Giants, where he became one of the greatest players in franchise history. He helped the team win two Super Bowl rings and is likely a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Manning has remained active around the NFL since retiring. He has been active in the media world, including working on the popular ManningCast for Monday Night Football. He also hosts The Eli Manning Show. According to a recent report by Front Office Sports, Eli Manning is now considering taking on a new NFL venture by exploring his options for owning a team.
Eli Manning wants to be an NFL team owner, he told FOS, but he’s not sure if he’d look beyond the only team he’s ever played for — the New York Giants.
“It’s of interest, it’s just got to be the right fit.”
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He is already familiar with franchise ownership, as he currently owns a stake in Gotham FC, a soccer team in the NWSL. Manning currently has a net worth estimated around $150 million, so he would need an ownership group to join an NFL team, as they are all worth billions of dollars. Here are three NFL teams that Eli Manning could potentially join as a partial owner.
#1 - New York Giants, Eli Manning's first choice
Eli Manning has made it clear that he would prefer to join the ownership group for the New York Giants if it were up to him.
“It’s of interest, it’s just got to be the right fit,, (but) I don’t think the Giants are going to be for sale anytime soon. (I'm not sure about) the idea of joining another team that you have no history with.”
The Giants are currently owned by John Mara and Steve Tisch, as the franchise has remained with their families for decades. While it seems unlikely they would sell the team, it's possible Manning buys into a small percentage of the ownership group.
#2 - New Orleans Saints
Eli Manning mentioned that if he were to own an NFL team, he would want some personal connection to it. While the Giants are the only team he has played for, he is still somewhat connected to the New Orleans Saints. Born in Louisiana, his father Archie Manning spent almost his entire career as the Saints quarterback.
Gayle Benson is currently the principal owner of the Saints but has said she plans on selling the team when her time is up. She wants to use the profits for various charities. There's no telling when this will happen, but when the Saints eventually hit the market, Manning could be interested in joining a purchasing group.
#3 - Chicago Bears
While Manning has no personal connection to the Chicago Bears, which may deter his interest, they may very well be the next NFL team available. Their principal owner, Virginia McCaskey, is currently 99 years old and there is reportedly no official succession plan.
The Bears ownership situation has sparked rumors for years that the franchise may hit open the market. The rumors most recently surfaced in 2021, but they never materialized. Eli's brother, Peyton Manning, was recently pursuing the Denver Broncos when they went up for sale. If the two are both interested in becoming NFL owners, the Bears may present the opportunity to do so together.