In Honor Of Eli Manning Retiring: The Definitive List Of The Best Moments Of His Career
I wrote this back when he got benched, but want to run it back again after the news broke of his retirement. I honestly thought he would spend a year somewhere as a spot starter, but there's something special about him only being a Giant in his career. Gonna miss this big lovable goof.
It's the end of an era and I am not okay. Eli Manning is someone I grew up with essentially. He took over the Giants when I was 18 years old. Prime time for being a sports fan. I got to celebrate Super Bowl wins in college and a few years after - prime celebration years. And now? Poof. It's gone. He'll go down as one of my favorite all time athletes. I know it's easy to make fun of him and point out all the flaws, but there was something about always having an above average quarterback play every week that you could win with. That's what made Eli so special. So with that in mind, and as I play my sad songs playlist and cry a bit, these are the best moments of his career. This won't be in any specific order just as I thought of them.
Signing the locker room wall in the first game at the Cowboys new stadium
Sunday Night Football. The first game at Jerryworld. Eli throwing for 300+ yards and a couple of touchdowns before Lawrence Tynes hit the game winning field goal as time expired. Eli goes into the locker room and signs the wall. I still love this move so much.
Forcing his way to the Giants on draft night
Without this we don't have Eli being Eli. I said it earlier and I'll say it again. The fact that the Giants had an above-average quarterback every week for 12ish years is such an advantage. Without this trade happening, the Giants don't have those two Super Bowls.
The left-handed pass against the Titans
This is more just reminding us of the good with the bad. It's part of why I love Eli. You just never know what the hell you're going to get. A random left-handed chest pass? Sure, why not. I don't know why but this play always sticks out to me.
NFC Title game vs the 49ers
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Was it his best game? Absolutely not. But it was the game that every Giants fan can point to. He got his dick kicked in. The Niners were just teeing off on him and beating the shit out of him. He didn't suffer though. He just stayed in the game and kept delivering. Dude just had balls of steel this entire game.
The first game-winning touchdown pass
2005 against the Broncos. It was one of those moments where I remember thinking us Giants fans were always in the game. It didn't matter if the Giants were trailing in the 4th. There was a stretch of time where Eli was just money in those game-winning situations.
Eli's reaction to Peyton winning his 2nd Super Bowl
So perfect. So Eli. He claims he was doing math and counting scores, people wondered if he was pissed Peyton finally had the same amount of Super Bowls as him. Either way, this is an all-time clip.
The Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks
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Going up just 3 against the Packers in the 2012 playoffs? Nope. Not with Eli. Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks, a dude I wish could just stay healthy. Completely change the game, ultimately leading to the Super Bowl. This play is on loop for Eli's career.
The Eli Face
What else needs to be said here. These are just a couple. The Eli face is a staple. There's nothing else like it in sports. It was made into memes, t-shirts, you name it. It'll never stop making me laugh and remembering that dope beating Belichick twice.
Eli to Manningham
I know the helmet catch gets all the attention but this play is fucking absurd. The pass is unreal. The catch is perfect. It's Eli in the Super Bowl. I may or may not watch this pass a trillion times today while crying. It's one of the greatest passes ever. EVER.
The premature field goal celebration
One of the most used gifs comes thanks to our guy here. Again, it goes back to the left-handed pass. We're just talking moments and this is an all time. A potential game winning field goal? Of course not. That's been the way the Giants have looked lately and Eli just sums it up perfectly.
Eli to Plaixco to win the first Super Bowl
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17-14. If you believe it, it will happen. And oh, did it happen. Less than 40 seconds left. After the Helmet Catch. He still had to deliver. Plaxico gets open and Eli just lofts it out there. Super Bowl and it's one of the first times I was nearly moved to tears watching sports. Shout out Maxwell St in Lexington for the party after.
Having no idea how in the living fuck to slide
Was I screaming? Absolutely. Did I possibly throw something? Yep. But again, this is just perfect Eli. Actually it's what made him imperfect. Why the fuck didn't he slide like a regular human? What went through that mind of his? No one will ever know.
Dirty Dancing with Odell:
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/960337672819572736?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E960337672819572736&refurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FNFL%2Fstatus%2F960337672819572736
All the expectations. Look at how much fun we're having! Ultimately, this will be how the end of Eli's career would be. The Giants were always a show but never living up to any sort of expectations. That said I will never not laugh at this commercial.
Speaking of Eli dancing
Those hips don't lie!
The Helmet Catch
Come on, what other way is there to end this? Almost getting sacked, breaking out and just tossing it. This play sums up Eli exactly as it should and how us Giants fans should remember him. Pretty weird, a little lucky, could go poorly but worked out beautifully.
Thanks for the career, Eli.