No, Eli Manning Isn’t Taking Over at Ole Miss - But the Rebels Still Have Big Questions to Answer
The Lane Kiffin era at Ole Miss is officially over. Kiffin is heading to LSU, leaving behind a Rebels program fresh off an 11-1 regular season and with legitimate College Football Playoff hopes in the new 12-team format. That’s a major shake-up for a team that had its eyes on a national title run - and now finds itself without its head coach at the most critical point of the season.
Naturally, the rumor mill kicked into overdrive. One viral tweet - from a parody account, no less - suggested that Eli Manning was poised to return to Oxford as the new head coach. The tweet was fake, but it made enough waves to get a response from Manning himself.
“‘Coach Manning’ has a nice ring to it,” he joked.
And while the idea of Eli patrolling the sidelines in the SEC might have stirred up some excitement (and more than a few double takes), there’s no truth to it. Manning isn’t stepping into the coaching world just yet - and certainly not in the middle of a playoff push. For now, defensive coordinator Pete Golding is taking over as interim head coach, and he’ll be tasked with keeping the Rebels focused and competitive as they navigate the postseason.
The Manning rumor, while tongue-in-cheek, did highlight just how much uncertainty Ole Miss is facing. Kiffin’s departure comes at a time when the program is arguably at its peak in recent memory.
An 11-1 finish in the SEC is no small feat. The Rebels have been explosive on offense, disciplined on defense, and built to make noise in the expanded playoff bracket.
Losing the man who helped orchestrate all of that - just as the stakes get higher - is a gut punch.
As for Eli, he’s got other things on his plate. The two-time Super Bowl champ will be back in front of the camera soon, calling the Monday night game between the Giants and the Patriots on ESPN2’s “ManningCast.” That matchup, of course, brings back memories of his two Super Bowl wins over New England - games that helped cement his legacy and likely punched his ticket to Canton.
There’s also a bit of family drama that would’ve come with an SEC coaching gig. Eli’s nephew, Arch Manning, is currently the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns - another team with playoff aspirations.
Coaching in the same conference as your nephew? That’s a Thanksgiving dinner storyline waiting to happen.
So no, “Coach Manning” isn’t walking through that door. But the Rebels still have work to do.
With Golding at the helm and a playoff berth on the line, Ole Miss has to regroup quickly. The talent is there.
The resume is strong. Now it’s about staying locked in - even without the head coach who got them this far.
And if you’re still holding out hope for a Manning-led Ole Miss someday? Well, keep dreaming. Just don’t believe everything you see on Twitter.