There’s no doubt that Eli Manning, with two Super Bowl rings, is one of the historic quarterbacks in NFL history, yet he has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The two-time Super Bowl MVP against the New England Patriots became eligible for the first time in 2025, after completing the required five years since his retirement in 2019, but he was not selected on his first attempt.
Now, with the 2026 vote, Manning has gone two years without entering the Hall, despite a career that includes over 57,000 passing yards, 366 touchdowns, and unforgettable moments with the New York Giants. Manning’s legacy is immense, especially due to those epic victories over the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, where he prevented Tom Brady’s legacy from growing even larger.
Despite this, Eli Manning still hasn’t made it into the Hall of Fame, which has begun to frustrate Giants fans. Of course, there’s the other side of the argument: critics point to his mediocre regular-season career record of 117-117, meaning he played just at a .500 level.
Eli Manning won the two most challenging Super Bowls
In an infographic released by the sportsbook DraftKings, they revealed the most difficult Super Bowls to win since 1985, and the toughest were the two the New York Giants won against Tom Brady’s Patriots in 2007 and 2011. In both games, the Giants were heavy underdogs.
The first of these Super Bowls, where Eli Manning and the Giants defeated the Patriots, was the most significant, ending New England’s perfect season, as they had entered the game undefeated at 18-0.
The most memorable moment of the game was the “Helmet Catch”, David Tyree’s incredible catch that kept the Giants’ drive alive. Eli Manning led his team in the final minutes, culminating with a touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress that sealed the victory – marking the third Super Bowl in franchise history.
Four seasons later, the two franchises faced off again. The Giants had defeated the Falcons and Packers and won the NFC Championship against the 49ers in a fierce game at the old Candlestick Park. In the Super Bowl, with another clutch drive from Eli Manning, the Giants defeated Tom Brady once again, securing their second historic victory over the Patriots.
For many, Eli Manning deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, even though he has been left out twice. Only time will tell, but the arguments for his induction into the Hall of the Immortals are undeniable.
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