GMEN HQ
FanSided

10 Reasons NY Giants’ Eli Manning Belongs in the Hall of Fame

By David Solow

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants warms up prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 10
Next
Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants (Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images)
Quarterback Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants (Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images) /

Reason #5: Eli Manning’s 2011 regular season and playoffs is one of the best ever by any quarterback in NFL history

Some will argue that Eli Manning was never ‘elite’ or the best at his position for an entire season. This is simply not true.

Manning’s combined 2011 regular season and playoffs can stack up with any of the great QB seasons in NFL history.

Eli Manning holds the record for most passing yards in a Super Bowl-winning season (regular season + postseason combined):

1. Eli Manning (2011) – 6,152

2. Tom Brady (2020) – 5,694

3. Peyton Manning (2006) 5,431

4. Kurt Warner (1999) – 5,416

5. Tom Brady (2018) – 5,308

Manning had an NFL Record 1219 passing yards in the postseason. This is even more impressive when you consider the 2011 NY Giants had the 32nd ranked run game and 27th ranked defense. Eli carried the GMEN on his back in 2011. He willed them to an NFC East title.

Many Eli Manning detractors will point to the fact that he doesn’t have an All-Pro on his resume. This has much less to do with his ability and performance, and more to do with the fact that he played in the same era as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees.

In Manning’s first eleven seasons from 2004 to 2014, only four quarterbacks were named first-team All-Pros. Peyton Manning (six times), Tom Brady (twice), Aaron Rodgers (twice), and Drew Brees (once). All four players are considered legendary quarterbacks. The four quarterbacks mentioned are holding almost every quarterback record that exists for the NFL.

Speaking of NFL records, Eli Manning set another one in 2011 when he had seven fourth-quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives in 2011. His offensive line pass blocking was ranked dead last in the NFL.

Manning also has the most big-time throws in a postseason since ’06 with 17. His 53 regular season big-time throws in 2011 were the most ever as well. At the end of the magical 2011 run, Eli won his second Super Bowl in four years. He won the Super Bowl with a completely different set of receivers than his 2007 Super Bowl.

Any way you slice it, the 2011 version of Eli Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Home/NY Giants History