The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 is already making headlines - and not just because of who got in, but who didn’t. Bill Belichick’s absence from the list has dominated the conversation, but another notable name was left off the induction list: Eli Manning.
Yes, the same Eli Manning who twice took down Belichick’s Patriots on the sport’s biggest stage. Despite a résumé that includes two Super Bowl MVPs and a pair of iconic postseason runs, Manning didn’t receive enough votes in his second year of eligibility to earn a gold jacket this summer.
Let’s unpack that.
A Career Defined by Big Moments
Manning spent 16 seasons under center for the New York Giants, from 2004 to 2019. While his regular-season record sits at an even 117-117, and his career completion percentage (60.3%) doesn't exactly leap off the page, Eli’s story has always been about more than just the box score.
Start with the Super Bowls. Manning is one of only six players in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowl MVPs.
Of the three eligible players in that group - Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, and Bart Starr - all were first-ballot Hall of Famers. The other two, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, are locks the moment they become eligible.
That’s the kind of company Manning keeps when it comes to postseason performance.
The Patriot Slayer
Manning’s Hall of Fame case is built on more than just stats - it’s about the moments that defined an era. In Super Bowl XLII, he orchestrated one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, ending the Patriots’ perfect season with a last-minute touchdown drive that featured the unforgettable David Tyree helmet catch. That play - and the drive that followed - instantly became part of NFL lore.
And he did it again four years later. In Super Bowl XLVI, it was Manning’s 38-yard strike down the sideline to Mario Manningham that set the tone for another game-winning drive. That throw, dropped perfectly between the safety and the sideline, was arguably the best of his career - a pinpoint pass under the brightest lights with everything on the line.
Twice, he stared down one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history - and twice, he walked away with the Lombardi Trophy and MVP honors.
A Playoff Performer Through and Through
What often gets overlooked is just how dominant Manning was during those two postseason runs. In both 2007 and 2011, he led all quarterbacks in playoff passing yards, touchdowns, and attempts. His 2011 campaign was especially impressive: over four games, he completed 65% of his passes for 1,219 yards and nine touchdowns - numbers that stack up with the best playoff stretches the league has ever seen.
He didn’t just win - he elevated his play when it mattered most.
Ironman and Stat Sheet Stalwart
Beyond the postseason heroics, Manning’s durability and longevity also deserve recognition. He owns the third-longest consecutive starts streak in NFL history, trailing only Brett Favre and Philip Rivers. That kind of consistency - especially in a league where quarterbacks take a beating - is no small feat.
And when you look at the career numbers, Manning still sits 11th all-time in both passing yards and touchdown passes. That’s not just a product of longevity - it’s a testament to sustained production over nearly two decades.
The Namath Comparison
Critics often point to Manning’s .500 regular-season record as a knock against his candidacy. But if that’s the bar, then we need to re-evaluate how we look at greatness.
Joe Namath, a Hall of Famer, finished his career with a losing record (62-63-4) and more interceptions than touchdown passes. What got Namath in wasn’t the stat sheet - it was the moment.
His guarantee and subsequent upset of the Colts in Super Bowl III helped change the course of football history.
Manning had two of those moments. And unlike Namath, he was the driving force behind both.
Final Thoughts
Eli Manning’s exclusion from the Hall of Fame this year may not stir the same level of debate as Belichick’s snub, but it’s no less significant. His career is a case study in clutch performance, leadership under pressure, and the kind of legacy that can’t be measured by regular-season win percentage alone.
He may not be headed to Canton just yet, but make no mistake - Eli’s day is coming. And when it does, it’ll be a long-overdue recognition of one of the most impactful quarterbacks of his generation.