NEW YORK — Eli Manning is preaching patience.
The two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback watched his former New York Giants go 3-14 this season. Despite whispers of coaching and front office changes in the lead up to season’s end, the franchise stuck with GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, giving them a fourth year at the helm. And Manning is supportive of that decision.
“I just think you just got to be a little more patient,” Manning said Thursday at a charity event when asked about his thought process watching the Giants season pan out. “Everybody’s in a quick decision to get rid of people and without necessarily a game plan to get someone, you know. Who else are you gonna get? Is there someone better out there? You can’t just keep changing over on coaches and management and expect better results. I mean I think it’s just you got to give time for people to get their people in, to set their culture, to let the players develop under them.
“You saw success two years ago. Last year, obviously, was tough, but I think Daboll and Joe Schoen are good people. They’re good coaches. They’re committed to it. And you know, if you have that, you’ve got to give them time and let them figure it out.”
Celebrating Ten’s one-year as a guide dog for @GuidingEyes CEO & President Thomas Panek. Ten was named after Guiding Eyes for the Blind board member Eli Manning’s number.
(Ten is a very good boy 🥹) pic.twitter.com/1UyFzcBrxE
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) January 23, 2025
That especially extends to quarterback development, which will be paramount for New York. With no current face of the future and the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, all eyes are on the position in the draft in addition to potential free agent pickups. Manning’s confidence in Daboll extends to his belief in developing a rookie quarterback. Manning highlighted Daboll’s past success in having “great quarterbacks” and “successful offenses.”
“Just hopefully, with their system, they’ll get a guy who can pick it up quickly and put them in the right situation to make plays,” Manning said. “I feel like they have some playmakers with (wide receiver Malik) Nabers and (running back Tyrone) Tracy and some young guys. When you get those young guys on that first rookie contract that are big parts of the offense (and) of the team, that can make a big difference.”
If there’s anyone who understands the pressures of being quarterback in New York, it’s Manning. The quarterback went from a rough rookie season to becoming a Hall of Fame finalist.
So he’s got a bit of perspective on what it takes to be a rookie QB in a market like New York.
“It’s not an easy situation,” Manning said. “A lot of pressure, a lot of expectations and being in New York and really being around the NFL, they expect immediate results, which is not easy to do in any market playing the quarterback position. So it’ll be interesting to see what route they take and who they get to play quarterback next year for the Giants.
“I know they’ll put in great, great work and great consideration of all their options, and hope they can get someone to make a difference. Because you see it this year, when you get a quarterback playing at a high level, you get a young quarterback playing at a high level, they can make a big difference on an organization.”
This year’s draft class isn’t projected to be as strong as the most recent years prior. But consensus standouts include Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. The buzz about Sanders in New York has been dominant because of the prospect’s famous football father, Deion Sanders. Manning said the elder Sanders has not reached out to him about the Giants.
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While Manning has some familiarity with the quarterbacks thanks to the Manning Passing Academy, he admitted the prospect he’s most familiar with is Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart — Ole Miss is Manning’s alma mater.
“I’ve been around him,” Manning said. “He’s been a great kid, been in the same offense for three years and been successful. You’ve seen him grow and progress, and seems to be able to make all the throws.”
No Pro Football Hall of Fame nerves
Manning is one of the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Class of 2025, and the Class of 2025 will be unveiled Feb. 6 during the NFL Honors awards in the lead up to the Super Bowl. No stranger to pressure over his 15-year career, Manning’s approach to the Hall of Fame announcement is no different. And he’s not nervous over either outcome.
“I don’t know if it’ll change my life in the sense where, you know, there’s nothing I can do to put myself in a better position to make it or not,” Manning said. “I think all the work’s been done. It’s just an honor to be included in the top 15 right now. And so that’s a tribute to the Giants, my teammates, coaches and all we went through and the success that we had as an organization during that time.
“I don’t know when I will find out, if it happens this year or not, but, you know, it’s one of those deals, it’d be a great honor. If it doesn’t happen, it’s not gonna ruin my weekend, not gonna ruin my year.”
Manning is from New Orleans, which would surely make an announcement extra special. He’ll be in his hometown for the big game just as he’s gone to past Super Bowls over the last two decades.
Manning said the relationships and friendships formed over his career and being a great teammate along with his streak of 210 straight starts are the things he’s most proud of when it comes to his career.
Does life after football include ownership?
With Tom Brady’s purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, the conversation about former players getting in on the game has increased. On a recent CNBC appearance, Manning expressed interest in pursuing NFL team ownership. But he said there’s only one team that would apply to: his former franchise the Giants.
The Maras, founding owning family of the club, and the Tischs, whose family bought into the team in 1991, each own 50 percent of the franchise. Manning said Thursday he’s not spoken to the Maras or Tischs about it.
“That’s a big number,” Manning said with a laugh. “I don’t know if there’s any reality to it. Would it be fun and interesting? Yes, but we’ll see how it all plays out.”
Manning is already a minority owner of the NWSL team, NJ/NY Gotham FC.
While ownership might interest Manning — he’s also pursued broadcasting with the ManningCast in addition to other post-playing projects — one thing that’s not entered his mind is NFL coaching.
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But he’s been happy to watch other former players, like recently named New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, take the mantle.
“I think there’s a passion,” Manning said. “You know the game inside out. You think like the player and what they can handle. And obviously Aaron’s had great success running the defensive schemes for the Lions the last few years and had a long career and so obviously has great knowledge of the game. I think he’ll do a great job, be a great leader. Excited for him.”
Super Bowl predictions?
Manning didn’t have any Super Bowl predictions Thursday but was excited for the weekend AFC and NFC championship games. He’ll be rooting for the quarterbacks and former teammates, including former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who’s had a historic season for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Happy for Saquon,” Manning said. “It’s been an unbelievable season for him, and very deserving of all the success he’s had.”
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
