New York icon Eli Manning plans to announce his retirement from the NFL on Friday, following his 16th season with the Giants. Almost immediately after the news broke that Manning would be walking away from the game, fans and analysts were arguing over Manning’s Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy, and the debate will continue to rage for the next five years, when Manning will become eligible.
FTW staff members Charles Curtis and Nick Schwartz are at odds over Manning’s legacy, and debated whether the two-time Super Bowl champion deserves to be enshrined in Canton.
Eli is a New York legend, but he’s not Hall-worthy
I write this as someone who has watched about 97 percent of Eli Manning’s games in his illustrious career, and someone who has written about how sad it was to see Manning finally benched last September. He deserves to be in the pantheon of all-time great New York athletes who delivered on so much of his promise after the Giants traded for him at the 2004 NFL draft.
Although I bet he gets into Canton, on paper, he’s not a Hall of Famer.
There are lots of people citing the two rings in defeats of the New England Patriots, but what people forget is the two defenses (one led by a fierce pass rush with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, the other with Jason Pierre-Paul and an underrated secondary) and terrific offensive lines that gave lots of room to running backs. Yes, Manning made two of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history, but he wasn’t necessarily THE reason those two Giants teams won.
The total touchdowns — 366, good for seventh all time for now — are cited a lot, but he played in a pass-heavy era. I’m more focused on career completion percentage (60.3 percent, 43rd all time and tied at the moment with names like Jason Campbell, Jon Kitna and Ryan Fitzpatrick) and QB rating (45th, tied with Joe Flacco). I’m not saying he was terrible! He was good overall, great in his prime, but not … well … EliTE.
I have no doubt he’ll get the Hall call at some point, perhaps on his second try. And I’ll be the happiest for him. But I just don’t think his numbers are Hall-worthy. — Charles Curtis
This is silly, Eli Manning is clearly a Hall of Famer
Eli Manning was never one of the best quarterbacks of his era, and you could even argue, as Charles has, that he’s not necessarily a “great” quarterback. His career accomplishments, though, are undoubtedly great. Is Eli Manning one of the best quarterbacks of all time? No! Absolutely not! But he had one of the greatest careers any quarterback has ever enjoyed, and that’s what will get him enshrined.
Manning’s greatest accomplishments cannot be overstated. He beat the duo of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in the Super Bowl twice, winning the MVP award in both games. Whether or not you believe Manning deserved those MVPs is irrelevant, because he won them and they’re on his résumé. He prevented a perfect season in Super Bowl XLII as a 12-point underdog, and a few years later he led a 9-7 team to a Super Bowl title. He denied the greatest dynasty in football history two Lombardi Trophies. These two wins alone sealed his place in Canton.
Manning ranks 7th in all-time passing yards, 7th in all-time passing touchdowns, 13th in fourth-quarter comebacks. Is he going to fall down those lists as time passes, especially in the current era? Of course! But Manning’s longevity at the toughest position in the sport is a notable accomplishment in its own right.
If Joe Namath, who finished his career with 47 more interceptions than touchdowns and a losing overall record to go with, along with one Super Bowl title, is a Hall of Famer, then Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer. Let’s not overthink this. – Nick Schwartz
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