Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame Snub Continues

Eli Manning won’t be heading to Canton anytime soon. For the second consecutive year, the former Giants quarterback was overlooked by the voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as reported by The Athletic.

As a two-time Super Bowl champion, Manning was among the 15 modern nominees for this year’s induction but, unfortunately, he will not be joining the ranks just yet.

Last year, he found himself in the same situation—achieving finalist status but ultimately not making the cut. His peers this year include a notable roster of retired NFL greats: Willie Anderson, Drew Brees, Jarri Evans, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Kevin Williams, Jason Witten, Darren Woodson, and Marshall Yanda. Among these, Brees, Fitzgerald, and Vinatieri are viewed as leading candidates for induction.

Interestingly, Manning was let go over a year ago, with his position taken by football legends like Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe. After missing out last January, he shared his thoughts, stating, “I’m excited for the guys that came out. They’re all so valuable… I felt like it wasn’t a night for me, and I understand that. I’m completely at ease. It’s not going to change the way I look or feel about my career.” It’s easy to respect that kind of attitude, even if it’s bittersweet.

Ranking 11th all-time in passing yards with 57,023 and tied for 11th in passing touchdowns with 366, Manning’s legacy still holds strong, especially considering he defeated Tom Brady and the Bill Belichick-led Patriots twice in the Super Bowl.

Before the likes of Brady and Patrick Mahomes—who will surely be first-ballot Hall of Famers—Manning stands out as the only two-time Super Bowl MVP not yet enshrined in Canton.

Looking ahead, Manning will appear on the ballot again next year, alongside potential first-ballot inductees like Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Ben Roethlisberger. While the Hall of Fame doesn’t have a strict cap on the number of inductees, it’s generally limited to four to eight new members in any given year.

Manning is not alone in this snubbing; even Bill Belichick, an eight-time Super Bowl champion, fell short of the necessary votes during his inaugural Hall of Fame eligibility. It just goes to show that the process can be quite unpredictable.