New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning retired from the NFL after a 16-year career on Friday. At his retirement press conference, Manning said that this was the right decision and that he has no regrets.
“I might have rushed into [the decision] a little bit because I knew it was the right thing to do,” Manning said. “I knew 100 percent I’m not going to regret this. When I make a decision, I commit to it and make it the right decision. This is it, and this is the right one. It’s an honor to have played here for 16 years and to have only played here.”
He added, “I hope that I’ve represented the organization in the way that you wanted me to from my first day to my last. For most of my life, people have called me Easy, Believe me, there is nothing easy about today. Wellington Mara always said, ‘Once a Giant, always a Giant.’ For me, it’s only a Giant.”
Giants president John Mara said that Manning will be inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor and that his No. 10 will be retired.
“You will always be the ultimate Giant, and we would be honored to induct you into our Ring of Honor next season. And please know this: no Giant will ever wear No. 10 again,” Mara said.
John Mara: We would be honored to induct Eli into the Giants Ring of Honor. No Giant will ever wear number 10 again#ThankYouEli
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 24, 2020
Now the question is whether or not Manning is a Hall of Famer?
The answer is a simple “yes.”
Manning has a career regular-season record of 117-117. He owns most of the Giants’ passing records and ranks in the NFL’s top seven in career passing yards (57,023), touchdown passes (366), and completions (4,895). He was a four-time Pro Bowler and won two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards.
In addition to his on-field performance, Manning never missed a game due to injury. He was the face of the Giants and played the game right and was a class act.
It is insane to say that Eli Manning won’t be a Hall of Famer. If he doesn’t get inducted into the Hall of Fame, that would be disrespectful because he deserves to be there.
We’ll see you in Canton, Eli.
