Longtime New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is leaving the gridiron but was his career enough to earn him a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
After taking virtually all the snaps at quarterback for the New York Giants for the past 16 seasons, Eli Manning is retiring. The Giants announced the news on Wednesday, with an official news conference coming on Friday. There is no question that Manning is the best quarterback to ever put on a Giants uniform, as he brought two Lombardi Trophies to the Big Apple during his tenure.
Eli Manning’s career is an interesting one. It is a mixed bag of highs, lows and everything in between. Manning’s career stats are somewhat impressive, as he is currently top 10 all-time in a couple of important categories when it comes to the quarterback position. However, some would argue (and stats do support this argument) that he has been mediocre for the majority of his career.
The 16-year NFL run of the Giants great was certainly unforgettable. The No. 1 overall pick from 2004 undoubtedly etched his name in the history books, the memory of football fans at large and in the legends of New York sports. But again, his memorability and the heights of his achievements don’t erase the somewhat less impressive aspects of his career.
With Manning set to officially retire from the NFL, does he leave a Hall of Fame resume behind him? Will he one day be voted into Canton and have the label “Hall of Famer” attached to his name? It is something that has been discussed for a while now and the answer could be yes or no. It is just a matter of how the voters judge his career.
So to try and determine whether or not Eli Manning will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he’s eligible, let’s look at the case for and against his enshrinement, starting with why the Giants legend should be heading to Canton.