Eli Manning: Career retrospective | Yardbarker

A New Orleans native, Eli Manning was the youngest of three youngsters. His brothers have been Cooper and Peyton Manning. His dad was New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning. 

Eli Manning spent his highschool profession on the Isidore Newman School. He excelled in soccer, throwing for 7,389 yards and 89 touchdowns. 

Fun truth: Odell Beckham Jr. attended the identical highschool as Eli. Drafted by the Giants in 2014, OBJ would grow to be Eli’s favourite goal, catching 390 passes for five,476 yards and 44 touchdowns.

After constructing a stellar highschool soccer resume, Manning weighed his school choices. Ultimately, he dedicated to Ole Miss, his dad’s alma mater. Following in his father’s footsteps, Eli entered the college with the final word aim of turning into a campus legend.

Manning was at Ole Miss from 2000-03. In his freshman yr, Manning solely threw 33 passes as a backup. The following yr was Manning’s likelihood to show himself. He did so to the tune of two,948 yards and 31 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions. Ole Miss didn’t make a bowl sport regardless of ending with a 7-4 report.

Manning had a strong outing his junior yr, main Ole Miss to an Independence Bowl victory towards Nebraska. These years have been constructing as much as his senior yr.

Manning performed lights-out his senior yr, posting 3,600 yards and 29 touchdowns. Manning led Ole Miss to a 10-3 report. They beat Oklahoma State within the Cotton Bowl. Manning threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns for the win. 

Manning was the most effective quarterback within the nation. In his senior yr, Manning received the Maxwell Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and was named a Second-Team All-American. Manning completed third in Heisman Voting.

Manning entered the 2004 NFL Draft as essentially the most sought-after participant. Manning was a no brainer for the primary total decide, given his household title and soccer expertise.

The San Diego Chargers held the primary decide within the draft. Eli and his father, Archie, made it clear that Eli would refuse to play for the Chargers. They cited the group’s dealing with of Ryan Leaf’s profession and San Diego’s small market as two of many causes. 

Still, Manning was drafted first total by the Chargers. The Ole Miss legend was traded in a deal to the New York Giants in change for quarterback Philip Rivers and a bundle of draft picks. 

The 2004 draft class was loaded with gifted quarterbacks. Eli Manning, Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers received a mixed 4 Super Bowls within the NFL.

Under new head coach Tom Coughlin, Manning cut up begins with Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner in his rookie yr. Warner acted as a bridge quarterback whereas Manning discovered the playbook and received accustomed to the pace of the NFL. 

In seven begins, Manning went 1-6 and handed for 1,043 yards to associate with six touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He completed the yr with a 55.4 quarterback score.

Manning took the coaching wheels off in 2005, passing for 3,762 yards and 24 touchdowns whereas main the Giants to an 11-5 report and a playoff berth. In the Wild Card, the Giants have been shut out by the Panthers in Manning’s first playoff sport. Regardless of the rating, the longer term was vivid. Manning was the full-time starter from this level on. In 2006, the Giants went 8-8, made the Wild Card, and misplaced to the Philadelphia Eagles on a last-second subject aim.

Heading into the 2007 season, questions surrounded Manning’s means to win the Big Game for the Big Apple. The New York media criticized him for his inconsistent play and a foul behavior of throwing interceptions. These critics could be silenced within the 2007 season.

Under Manning’s management, the Giants went 10-6. Manning threw 3,336 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions for a 73.9 passer score. 

Heading into the playoffs, the Giants have been seen as main underdogs. They answered the critics by successful shut video games towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

They beat the Green Bay Packers within the 2007 NFC Championship Game, the second coldest sport ever at Lambeau Field with a -1 diploma temperature. It was official; the Giants have been going to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 42 was a David vs. Goliath story. The Giants versus the undefeated New England Patriots. 

The Giants have been going to should play an ideal sport to beat the proper workforce. They received to legendary quarterback Tom Brady all night time, sacking him 5 instances. A defensive stalemate all sport, the Giants took the momentum after Manning’s cross was caught by receiver David Tyree, who held onto the ball utilizing his helmet. It’s one of many biggest Super Bowl performs. Next, Manning and the Giants took the lead by throwing a wide-open landing to Plaxico Burress. 

The Giants have been Super Bowl champions. The win was so inconceivable that it was as if a Hollywood director had written the sport. Manning received Super Bowl MVP, throwing 255 yards and two touchdowns within the upset victory.

The Super Bowl celebration ended, and the Giants appeared to repeat in 2008. The Giants went 12-4, and Manning made his first Pro Bowl after ending the yr with 3,238 yards and 21 touchdowns. After having fun with their first-round bye, the Giants have been crushed by the Philadelphia Eagles within the Divisional Round. Manning threw two interceptions within the loss. Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress missed the playoffs after a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a nightclub ended his season.

The Giants missed the playoffs in 2009 in a aggressive NFC East. The Giants rebounded by going 10-6 however missed the playoffs. In a win-and-in state of affairs towards the Philadelphia Eagles late within the season, the Giants blew a 31-10 lead and misplaced to the Eagles, 38-31.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin was on the recent seat heading into the 2011 season. Playing for his coach, Manning threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns, ok for his second Pro Bowl. 

The Giants began the season with a 6-6 report. They completed sturdy by successful three of the final 4 video games, together with a Christmas Eve matchup towards the New York Jets. Manning threw a 99-yard landing to Victor Cruz within the sport, setting an NFL report. In the final sport of the season, the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys in a win-and-in state of affairs, cementing their playoff spot as a Wild Card workforce.

Manning was on a sizzling streak harking back to his first Super Bowl run 4 years prior. Their second massive playoff run began with a 24-2 blowout over the Atlanta Falcons, whose solely rating was a security. They shocked the 15-1 Packers at dwelling in an upset victory. The Packers have been favorites to win all of it. 

The Giants performed the San Francisco 49ers within the 2011 NFC Championship Game. Two heavyweight groups squared up for a slugfest within the rain. The sport went all the way down to the wire, as each groups have been hungry for a Super Bowl berth. Manning was pressured by the 49ers’ cross rush all sport lengthy. He stood tall and took a variety of onerous hits within the sport. The sport went to time beyond regulation, tied at 17-17. A late Lawrence Tynes subject aim despatched the Giants to the Super Bowl, successful 20-17. Manning had 316 yards and two touchdowns within the thrilling victory.

Four years after successful his first Super Bowl, Manning did what he does finest. He owned Tom Brady and the Patriots when it mattered most. At Lucas Oil Stadium, dwelling of Peyton Manning’s Colts, Eli led his workforce over the Patriots, 21-17. Wide receiver Mario Manningham made a spectacular catch on the sideline to maintain the game-winning drive alive, and working again Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game-winning landing.

Manning lived as much as the hype by throwing 296 yards and a landing, successful Super Bowl MVP honors.

During the 2011 playoff run, Manning went 4-0, threw for an NFL playoff report 1,219 yards, 9 touchdowns to only one interception, and posted a 103.3 passer score. It was the most effective soccer Manning had performed in his profession.

In the second sport of the 2012 season, Manning threw for a career-high 510 yards towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 41-34 win. He threw an attractive game-winner to Victor Cruz within the closing minutes of an NFC East division matchup towards Washington. The Giants marched to a 6-2 report midway via the season.

The Giants collapsed to 9-7 and missed the playoffs. In Week 14, they beat the New Orleans Saints 52-27. The following week, they misplaced to the Atlanta Falcons 34-0. This two-week slate exemplifies their inconsistency late down the stretch when it mattered most. The Super Bowl hangover received to the Giants. 

However, Manning went to his third Pro Bowl and willed his workforce to victory on many events.

“Eli Face” is a meme that went viral within the early 2010s. Throughout an NFL sport, Manning is understood to make expressionless, humorous faces. The cameras would seize him sitting on the sidelines or after a grimy hit making his trademark “Eli Face.” He made the goofy faces loads, and a minimum of one would go viral yearly. While we bear in mind Eli most for beating the Patriots twice within the Super Bowl, the “Eli Face” meme is one other memorable second from his profession.

The Giants received off to an 0-6 begin to the 2013 season. The Giants have been outgunned in nearly each sport. Turnovers plagued the Giants the complete yr. At instances, their offense appeared lifeless. 

The Giants stumbled to a 7-9 end. It was the primary time the Giants had a shedding report since 2004. It was solely the second shedding report of the Manning-Coughlin period.

Manning threw for 3,818 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a league-leading 27 interceptions.

Longtime Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride retired in January 2014. He was changed with Ben McAdoo (extra on him later).

As you most likely know, Eli Manning’s older brother is Peyton Manning, a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. 

The brothers performed towards one another thrice. Peyton went undefeated towards Eli, successful two video games as a Colt (2006, ’10) and the final one as a Bronco (’13). 

Eli and Peyton by no means performed towards one another within the playoffs. It must be within the Super Bowl as a result of they each performed in several conferences throughout their careers. A Manning Super Bowl feels like must-watch TV. Unfortunately, it by no means occurred.

The Giants have been seeking to bounce again from back-to-back shedding seasons heading into 2015. Manning threw for 4,432 yards and a career-high 35 touchdowns because the Giants remained aggressive in a struggling NFC East. They completed 6-10. 

Manning’s finest sport of the yr got here towards Drew Brees and the Saints in November. The sport was an absolute shootout that ended within the Saints’ favor, 52-49. Manning had 350 yards and 7 touchdowns. Brees clocked out with 505 yards and a record-tying six touchdowns in among the finest quarterback duels in latest reminiscence.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin retired after the 2015 season. He was Manning’s head coach for 12 years. The Giants went to the playoffs 5 instances and received two Super Bowls within the Manning-Coughlin period. Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo was promoted to move coach.

The Giants went 11-5 in McAdoo’s first yr as head coach. Manning launched 4,027 passing yards and 26 touchdowns on the yr. The dynamic duo of Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. at vast receiver proved deadly. Manning helped deliver the Giants again to the playoffs, the place they misplaced to the Packers 38-13 after the notorious Miami boat journey picture was taken.

Once the season was over, Manning received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award on the NFL Honors. It’s one of the crucial prestigious awards a participant can win.

The Giants went 3-13 in 2017. In a late November matchup towards the Oakland Raiders, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo benched Manning and began Geno Smith in his place. The transfer to bench Manning sparked outrage in New York. It ended Manning’s streak of 210 consecutive begins. Ben McAdoo was fired instantly after the sport. Manning grew to become the starter for the remainder of the season as interim coach Steve Spagnuolo took over. Manning received within the workforce’s final sport, bettering the Giants to a 3-13 report.

In 2018, the Giants drafted working again Saquon Barkley second total. The pairing of Odell Beckham Jr. and Barkley was electrical, however the Giants did not make any noise, going 5-11.

Manning nonetheless performed at a excessive stage because the workforce struggled. Yet, with each throw he made, you could possibly inform he was coming into the “last call” stage of his profession. 

The Giants drafted Daniel Jones out of Duke University with the sixth total decide within the draft. 

After shedding the primary two video games because the starter, Manning was changed with Jones. Manning got here again into the beginning lineup to fill in for an injured Jones in December. In his final sport as a starter, Manning gave the house crowd one final dance towards the Miami Dolphins. He threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-20 win. Manning obtained a standing ovation for his efficiency. It was his closing sport. The Giants went 4-12 in 2019.

To hint the Manning Dynasty again to its origins, we’d have to return to the Nineteen Seventies, when Archie Manning was the beginning quarterback for the Saints. He received two Pro Bowls there as participant on a foul workforce.

He had three youngsters: Cooper, Peyton, and Eli. Cooper was an excellent vast receiver in highschool. Unfortunately, he stop soccer in highschool as a consequence of spinal stenosis. Peyton wore No. 18 in honor of his brother.

From 2005-15, Peyton and Eli Manning mixed to win 4 Super Bowls. They handed for a mixed 128,963 yards and 905 touchdowns throughout their careers.

Cooper’s son, Arch, dedicated to play school soccer with the Texas Longhorns. It appears to be like like one other Manning goes to be within the combine.

The greatest query of Eli Manning’s profession simply is perhaps whether or not he’s a Hall of Famer or not. Instead of giving our take, Yardbarker goes to indicate you the stats for and towards Eli.

Yes:

• Won two Super Bowls towards Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 

• 8-4 playoff report with 2,815 yards and 18 touchdowns to 9 interceptions

• Played for an enormous market workforce as a member of essentially the most well-known household in soccer 

• Longevity is on his aspect. He began in 210 consecutive video games, the third-longest streak of all time for a quarterback behind solely Brett Favre (297) and Philip Rivers (224). 

• Memorable moments (David Tyree catch, Odell Beckham Jr. catch, quarterback duel towards Drew Brees in 2015)

No:

• 117-117 win-loss report as a starter

• Led the league in interceptions thrice (2007, ’10, ’13)

• Six playoff berths in 16 years

• Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers dominated his period. He was by no means thought-about a top-five quarterback. 

He’s eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025.

Eli Manning’s jersey quantity was retired by the Giants in 2021. Over his 16 years with the G-Men, Manning made 234 begins and handed for 57,203 yards and 366 touchdowns for an 84.1 profession passer score. He holds each main passing report in Giants historical past. 

He was underrated for quantity of his profession, and followers and gamers are solely now starting to understand his accomplishments. He was a tricky and resilient quarterback who wasn’t afraid to face tall within the pocket and take successful.

We is perhaps debating his Hall of Fame standing for a while. One factor we received’t should debate is Manning’s legendary standing within the Big Apple.