Eli Manning isn’t trading in his TV headset for a whistle anytime soon-despite what a viral parody tweet might’ve had some fans believing.
With Lane Kiffin officially leaving Ole Miss to take over at LSU, Manning’s name briefly (and humorously) entered the coaching rumor mill thanks to a fake tweet from a parody account posing as a recruiting insider. The post claimed Ole Miss was moving quickly to name the two-time Super Bowl champ its next head coach. Manning, ever the good sport, played along, responding: “‘Coach Manning’ has a nice ring to it.”
But let’s be clear-there’s no coaching search that ends with Eli Manning pacing the sidelines in Oxford. The job of interim head coach will go to defensive coordinator Pete Golding, as the Rebels regroup after an 11-1 regular season and gear up for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
That record? It’s no fluke.
Ole Miss has been one of the most balanced teams in the country this season, and while Kiffin’s departure is a curveball, the program’s postseason hopes are very much alive. Golding will be tasked with keeping the team focused and competitive on college football’s biggest stage.
As for Eli, the idea of him coaching in the SEC would’ve made for some fascinating family dynamics. His nephew, Arch Manning, is now the starting quarterback at Texas-a team that could very well cross paths with Ole Miss in the playoff bracket. That’s the kind of Manning Bowl we’re not quite ready for.
For now, Eli will stick to what he does best these days: breaking down games with his brother Peyton on ESPN2’s “Manningcast.” And fittingly, the next game on the docket is a familiar one-the Giants vs. the Patriots, a rematch of both of Eli’s Super Bowl triumphs. You can expect some nostalgia, a few jabs at Tom Brady (even if he’s not playing), and maybe, just maybe, a few more jokes about his short-lived coaching “career.”
If you’re a Patriots fan, you might prefer the traditional ESPN broadcast with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. But if you’re here for the laughs, the insight, and maybe a few more fake job offers, the Manningcast is where you’ll want to be Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET.