New York Giants great Eli Manning has one of the most contentious Hall of Fame candidacies in recent memory. The two-time Super Bowl champion failed to reach Canton in his first year of eligibility, as the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced at the NFL Honors awards show Thursday night.
Cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe make up the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
Manning's case is headlined by his two Super Bowl championships with the Giants, unlikely runs that culminated in wins over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. However, he was rarely, if ever, considered one of the top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL at any point in his career, without a single All-Pro selection or MVP vote. Manning finished his career with a 117–117 record and led the NFL in interceptions three times.
His Hall of Fame journey isn't over yet, after his first year on the ballot, but if Manning can't join his brother in the exclusive fraternity, he'll be the first two-time Super Bowl MVP to miss induction. Of the 13 quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl wins, Manning joins Jim Plunkett as the only Hall of Fame-eligible players that haven't been inducted.
Here's the list of players with multiple Super Bowl MVPs
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) February 7, 2025
All of them -- except Eli -- are either in the Hall of Fame or certainly going there.
Tom Brady - 5
Patrick Mahomes / Joe Montana - 3
Eli Manning / Terry Bradshaw / Bart Starr - 2 pic.twitter.com/oAXFZ6GJ0I
Naturally, Giants fans and Eli supporters are up in arms by the perceived snub.
Imagine publicly discrediting Eli Manning’s HOF credentials on social media.
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) February 6, 2025
Think of the time you spent making a case that fits your narrative when in fact the reasons for enshrinement are so obvious. #Giants100
imagine a qb who has 2 super bowl wins, 2 super bowl mvps, is 11th all time in passing yards and passing tds and yet hes not a 1st ballot hall of famer. eli manning remains the most underrated and misrepresented player of all time
— choonz (@lostTobobbyflay) February 6, 2025
Go ahead and tell me why Eli Manning isn’t a Hall of Famer right now. pic.twitter.com/CirVUSPyKN
— 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (@TylerNubinMVP) February 7, 2025
The 4 players that made the 2025 HOF:
— Everything Ole Miss (@EverythingRebs) February 7, 2025
- Eric Allen
- Antonio Gates
- Jared Allen
- Stelring Sharpe
… combined for 0 championships
Eli Manning: 2 championships & 2 MVP’s
A joke.
"The way I view the HOF is football immortality, and did you rise to the occasion when it called for it at the highest of levels - and Eli Manning has done that - he did it not once, but twice. In the biggest game against the toughest team." @msmallmon on Eli Manning not being… https://t.co/wgIZpzlf6x pic.twitter.com/J63heQlQPm
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) February 7, 2025
Others believed leaving Manning out was the correct call given his overall résumé:
Congrats to the four-man Hall of Fame class of Eric Allen, Antonio Gates, Sterling Sharpe & Jared Allen! Are we surprised Eli Manning was left out?
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) February 7, 2025
"He's got the two Super Bowl runs. He's obviously got the last name. Dad, I ultimately think the right decision that he was not a… pic.twitter.com/C4IebMBooC
Eli Manning never was a first or second-team All-Pro selection.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 5, 2025
He never received a single MVP vote.
And he made the Pro Bowl in four of 16 years.
I don't get the Hall of Fame consideration at all. https://t.co/omQtNRCw2Y
Of the 27 modern-era QBs in the Hall of Fame, 15 of them went in on the first ballot.
— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) February 6, 2025
I do not believe Eli Manning measures up to that group on the left. pic.twitter.com/4LVuuwQS0d
Eli Manning should never be in the HOF.
— Travis J Davidson (@TravisSkol) February 7, 2025
“Beating Brady twice” can’t be your lone argument.
He was simply never the best (or second or possibly third best) QB in the league at any point during his 16-year career.
Manning will have another shot to make the Hall of Fame in 2026 but he'll be up against a pretty stacked list of players. Larry Fitzgerald and Drew Brees are likely locks to make it on their first ballots, while Philip Rivers—a player whose career is inextricably linked to Manning's—will also be on the ballot. Other players left on the outside looking in this year include Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Steve Smith Sr., Terrell Suggs and Reggie Wayne.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Football Fans Were Split on Hall of Fame Voters' Eli Manning Decision.
