Bill Belichick would have two more Super Bowl rings if not for Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
So in terms of garnering the respect of the man who is among the greatest football coaches of all-time, perhaps the best in the history of the sport, Manning has certainly earned it.
And Belichick continues to make it clear how he feels about Manning and his chances at the Pro Football Hall of Fame – the Giants’ quarterback is one of 15 finalists in consideration for this year’s induction.
“Eli, you don’t look that good in a hoodie, but you’re gonna look great in a gold jacket,” Belichick said on the ManningCast during Monday’s Rams-Vikings wild card playoff game on ESPN2. “I’m sure that’s gonna happen and you deserve it so much.”
Manning and those in contention to be part of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will find out how the vote plays out at NFL Honors in New Orleans on Feb. 6, three days before Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome.
Manning was seventh all time in completions (4,895), passing yards (57,023) and touchdowns (366) when he retired in 2019. He won two Super Bowl MVPs – both at the expense of Belichick and Tom Brady – and the list of players with two Super Bowl MVPs is an exclusive one: Brady, Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Patrick Mahomes.
Manning also made 210 consecutive starts from 2004 to 2017, the third-longest streak in NFL history behind Brett Favre and Philip Rivers. His run ended not due to injury, but a coach’s decision.
Belichick has returned to coaching in college at the University of North Carolina and he has been a regular guest on the ManningCast this season with Eli and Peyton, his older Hall of Fame brother. The Mannings bid farewell to Belichick on their episode Monday night, with Peyton saying: “It was more fun being your teammate than having to go against you. I know that much for sure.”
With a witty retort, Eli Manning reminded all of what remains a big part of his legacy: “Peyt, you kinda speak for yourself there. I kinda liked playing against Bill sometimes.”
And that might just be what pushes Eli Manning over the top and into Canton in a few weeks.
