Eli Manning's former teammate makes Hall of Fame case for Giants legend
Eli Manning is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in New York Giants history. He led the franchise to two Super Bowl wins in 2007 and 2011, both against Tom Brady's New England Patriots. The 2007 win, in particular, is remembered as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game, defeating an undefeated Patriots team.
But should Manning be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Teammate and former defensive end Justin Tuck thinks so. He made his case on Tuesday's episode of "The Pivot Podcast" (starting at 59:40 in the video below):
"If you think about his longevity, his yards, his touchdowns, his Super Bowls, his Super Bowl MVPs, I think that alone answers that question. But I also think a lot of people don't take into consideration how hard it is to live in Peyton Manning's shadow and then come out and build your own name in the biggest and broadest market there is in the world."
He continued:
"Also, the things around his leadership... but when you think about him showing up, being at that facility day in and day out, maybe the first person in and the last person to leave every day for, how many, 16 or 17 years, however long he played, just the model of consistency, I think that adds to that list."
Does Eli Manning deserve Hall of Fame induction? A look at his resume
Eli Manning’s Super Bowl wins have solidified his place in New York Giants history, but aside from those triumphs, his accomplishments are limited, especially as his career progressed.
Even before his Cinderella run in 2007, he was regarded as a quarterback who struggled to move past the Wild Card round. After 2011, his career took a downward turn, with just one playoff appearance (in 2016), where the Giants were eliminated in the Wild Card round
He also finished his career with a dead-even win-loss record as a starter (117-117) and holds the dubious honor of most career lost fumbles in NFL history with 56 — statistics that hardly scream Hall of Fame caliber.
Despite these flaws, Eli Manning holds most of the Giants' passing records and remains a beloved figure in New York. His status as a “cult hero” is not without merit, but it’s not unique to him in terms of Hall of Fame considerations
For instance, Joe Namath, widely considered the first "modern" quarterback, was inducted despite retiring with more interceptions (220) than touchdowns (173) and a losing record as a starter (62-63-4).
Similarly, linebacker Dick Butkus, considered one of the greatest defensive players in history, never made the playoffs with the Chicago Bears, and offensive tackle Joe Thomas was inducted despite playing for the struggling Cleveland Browns, often seen as the NFL's laughingstock.
These examples highlight that a player's full body of work, flaws included, can still merit a Hall of Fame nod. And while Eli Manning’s career may have been imperfect, it’s enough to suggest that he could be deserving of a spot in Canton.