Eli Manning’s Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy has given way to heated debates in the football world. Whether or not the 44-year-old quarterback gets inducted into Canton in the Class of 2025 during the NFL Honors is for the world to see.
While his individual accolades don’t scream “first-ballot lock,” Manning’s legacy is defined by one thing — winning. More specifically, the New York Giants won two Super Bowls against the NFL G.O.A.T. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, including the historic upset of the undefeated 2007 squad.
That alone puts Manning in elite company, but is it enough for enshrinement?
Is Eli Manning Worthy of the Hall Of Fame?
NFL and Giants beat reporter Art Stapleton doesn’t believe Manning will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025. He tweeted, “My advice for Giants fans: temper expectations for tonight. I think Eli Manning is going to have to wait. This is not based on anything official; it’s just the sense I get from following the entire situation. The new process works against him, and his candidacy is unfairly skewed.”
My advice for Giants fans: temper expectations for tonight. I think Eli Manning is going to have to wait. Not based on anything official, just sense I get from following the entire situation.
The new process works against him, and his candidacy is unfairly skewed.— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) February 6, 2025
Statistically, Manning’s numbers are not “legendary.” He never won an MVP, never made an All-Pro team, and finished his career with a perfectly balanced 117-117 record as a starter. Manning’s 60.3% career completion rate sits alongside the likes of Jason Campbell and John Kitna, and his career passer rating of 84.1 ranks just above Mark Brunell.
However, longevity matters. Manning is 11th all-time in passing yards (57,023) and touchdowns (366), numbers that place him in the same conversation as Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan. But as history has shown, pure statistics don’t dictate a quarterback’s Hall of Fame fate.
Manning himself doesn’t give much thought to the possibility of getting snubbed.
“It’s obviously, you know, it’s an honor to be included, it’s an honor to be talked about, and to make it. It’s one of those things you can’t control it. So why worry about it? You’ll know one way or the other. It’s not that I’m not going to lose sleep over this next week,” the former Giants quarterback said on the “Up & Adams” show.
What truly sets Manning apart is his Super Bowl pedigree. Every QB who has won multiple Super Bowls — except for Jim Plunkett — is in the Hall of Fame or will be. Manning didn’t just win two rings; he won two Super Bowl MVPs, an accolade that even his legendary brother Peyton Manning only achieved once.
Those Super Bowl victories weren’t just ordinary wins, either. Eli Manning engineered two of the most memorable championship runs in NFL history. The David Tyree helmet catch, the clutch throws to Mario Manningham, and the icy composure in the biggest moments define his legacy far more than any regular-season stat.
Manning’s off-field contributions, including winning Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2016 and his continued presence as a media personality, only bolster his standing as a franchise icon. He was the face of the Giants for 16 years and remains a beloved figure in the sport.
Ultimately, the Hall of Fame isn’t just about stats — it’s about impact. Manning might not have dominated the regular season like his older brother, but he delivered when the lights shined brightest. That alone should be enough to punch his ticket to Canton.
