No snub: Eli Manning simply didn’t deserve first-ballot Hall of Fame honor

In a surprising development from the NFL Honors award show on Thursday night, Eli Manning is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The former Giants quarterback failed to earn inclusion as a member of the 2025 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Instead, Jared Allen, Eric Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe will share the stage at this year’s ceremony on Aug. 2. 

But while some are left confused and arguing Manning was snubbed, the committee actually did the right thing.  

They looked beyond the football royalty of his last name and the fact he played for a marquee franchise in a big market. They simply looked at his overall resume and realized he’s just not deserving of a first-ballot selection. 

Those upset about Manning’s “snub” will point to his two Super Bowl rings, both won at the hands of the New England Patriots in the midst of their dynastic run with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. 

Manning even has the big moment of spoiling the Patriots’ undefeated season by leading a game-winning drive in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLII to win the game, 17-14. 

Others may suggest his 57,023 passing yards is enough on its own. However, there are plenty of holes on Manning’s resume that warrant making him wait to earn football immortality. 

Manning threw 366 touchdown passes during his 16-year NFL career. But he also threw 244 interceptions, the 13th most in NFL history. 

In fact, Manning never led the league in touchdown passes or any other positive passing category. The only category he did top on multiple occasions — interceptions. He actually led the league in picks three times. 

Manning threw 20 interceptions in the 2007 regular season that preceded his Giants shocking the world with their improbable Super Bowl triumph. 

Manning also led the league in interceptions in 2010 (25) and 2013 (27). He actually reached double digits in interceptions in all but two of his 16 seasons — the nine games he played as a rookie and the four in his final NFL season in 2019.  

It’s not just about the turnovers as why Manning doesn’t fit first ballot criteria. Brett Favre, the NFL’s all-time leader in interceptions with 366, became a first-ballot selection and is often regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. 

But there’s a huge difference between Favre and Manning — “The Gunslinger” was a far more accomplished player than Manning. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler, won three MVPs and made first-team All-Pro three times. 

For a further comparison, Manning made four Pro Bowls, was never named All-Pro and never truly came close to MVP consideration. Yes, Manning has one more Super Bowl ring than Favre, but football is a team sport and the Hall of Fame is about what an athlete achieved as an individual. 

Manning will likely be enshrined at some point. And if we look at a sports Hall of Fame as a museum to chronicle the history of the game, Manning deserves a place in Canton.

But with that said, only 89 (25 quarterbacks) of the current 371 Pro Football Hall of Famers were inducted in their first year eligible. Based on that president alone, a first-ballot honor should be reserved for the elite of the elite. 

So while Manning missing out might surprise casual fans, awarding one of the more polarizing candidates in recent memory with the first-ballot distinction would’ve been wrong. 

Manning will eventually get in, but his wait is just.