Eli Manning facts for kids
![]() Manning in 2019
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No. 10 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
January 3, 1981 ||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Isidore Newman (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
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College: | Ole Miss (1999–2003) | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Elisha Nelson Manning (born January 3, 1981) is a former professional football quarterback. He played for 16 seasons with the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). Eli is part of the famous Manning family, being the youngest son of Archie and the younger brother of Peyton.
Eli Manning played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels. During his senior year, he won important awards like the Maxwell Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. In the 2004 NFL draft, he was chosen first overall by the San Diego Chargers. However, he was quickly traded to the Giants.
Manning is best known for leading the Giants to two unexpected Super Bowl victories. They beat the strong New England Patriots dynasty in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. The first win, where the Giants defeated a Patriots team that had won every regular season game, is considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Eli was named Super Bowl MVP in both championships. This makes him one of only six players to win this award multiple times.
As the Giants' starting quarterback from 2004 to 2019, Eli Manning holds many team records. These include the most passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions. He was also incredibly durable, starting 210 games in a row from 2004 to 2017. This is the third-longest streak for an NFL quarterback. He ranks among the top 11 all-time in passing yards and top 10 in touchdowns.
Contents
- Eli Manning's Early Life
- College Football Journey
- Becoming a Pro Football Star
- "The Manning Bowl"
- After Football
- Images for kids
- See also
Eli Manning's Early Life
Eli Manning was born in New Orleans. He was the youngest of three boys. His father, Archie Manning III, was also a famous NFL quarterback. His older brothers, Cooper and Peyton, also played football when they were growing up.
Eli went to high school at the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. There, he played both football and basketball. In high school, he set a school record with 7,389 passing yards and 89 touchdowns. He later decided to play college football at the University of Mississippi.
College Football Journey
When Eli started college, he was often compared to his older brother Peyton, who was already a star quarterback in the NFL. Despite this, Eli made his own mark at the Ole Miss Rebels. He set many records for single games, seasons, and his entire college career. He finished with 10,119 passing yards and 81 touchdown passes.
Starting as a Freshman
In his first year, 2000, Eli didn't play much. He appeared in six games, throwing for 170 yards.
Becoming the Starter in 2001
In 2001, Eli became the Rebels' main quarterback. In his first game as a starter, he threw for 271 yards and five touchdowns! He helped the Rebels win several games, including against Alabama and LSU. In one memorable game against Arkansas, he threw for 312 yards and six touchdowns in a very long, exciting game that went into seven overtimes. Overall, he had a great year with 2,948 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
Junior Year Highlights in 2002
Eli's junior season in 2002 started strong with two big wins. He threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns in a game against Texas Tech. The Rebels won three more games in a row, which helped them get ranked #21 in the country. Eli finished this season with 3,401 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also led his team to a victory in the Independence Bowl.
Senior Year Success in 2003
In his senior year, 2003, Eli led the Rebels to a fantastic 10–3 record. This was their first ten-win season since 1971! He played exceptionally well, especially during a six-game winning streak against tough opponents like Florida and Auburn. He also led them to a 31–28 victory in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
As his college career ended, Eli won many awards. These included the Maxwell Award for the nation's best all-around player and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for the top quarterback. He also finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, one of college football's most prestigious awards. Eli graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing.
Becoming a Pro Football Star
In the 2004 NFL draft, the San Diego Chargers had the first pick. Eli Manning was the top player everyone wanted. However, Eli and his father, Archie, said he would not play for the Chargers if they drafted him. Despite this, the Chargers still picked him first.
But it was all part of a plan! The Chargers had a deal with the New York Giants. The Giants would draft another player, Philip Rivers, and then trade him, along with some future draft picks, to the Chargers for Eli Manning. Eli then signed a big six-year, $45 million contract with the Giants.
Eli Manning was one of 17 quarterbacks chosen in the 2004 NFL draft. Other notable quarterbacks from that draft included Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger. All three had long and successful careers. While Eli had fewer Pro Bowl selections than the others, he made his mark with his two amazing Super Bowl victories. He is the only one of the three to win Super Bowl MVP honors, which he did twice.
First Season in 2004
Eli made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2004 season. He got his first start on November 21, 2004. In that game, he threw his first career touchdown pass. He earned his first win as a starter in the final regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants finished with a 6–10 record that year.
Leading the Giants in 2005
In 2005, Eli became the full-time starting quarterback. He led the Giants to an 11–5 record and won the NFC East division title. In one exciting game, he led a last-minute drive to beat the Denver Broncos with a touchdown pass with only five seconds left! The Giants made it to the postseason but lost in the first round.
2006 Season Challenges
Eli's 2006 season was a mix of good and tough moments. He started well, even throwing for a career-high 371 yards in a thrilling overtime win against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Giants had a five-game winning streak, reaching a 6–2 record. However, injuries to key players affected the team's performance later in the season. The Giants made the playoffs again but lost in the Wild Card Round.
Super Bowl Champions in 2007!
Before the 2007 season, Eli worked hard with his coaches and teammates to improve. The season started with two losses, but the Giants quickly turned things around, winning six games in a row. This included a win in London, where Eli scored the first touchdown in an NFL regular season game played outside North America!
The Amazing 2007 Playoffs
The Giants entered the playoffs as the #5-seed, meaning they were considered underdogs. But Eli and the team were ready!
- Wild Card Round: They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24–14 on the road. Eli threw two touchdown passes.
- Divisional Round: They pulled off a huge upset against the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys, who were the top seed in the NFC. Eli played great, throwing two touchdowns with no interceptions.
- NFC Championship: In a very cold game, the Giants beat the Green Bay Packers 23–20 in overtime. This win sent Eli and the Giants to Super Bowl XLII.
Super Bowl XLII Victory
In Super Bowl XLII, the Giants faced the undefeated New England Patriots. Most people thought the Patriots would win easily. But with just 2:42 left in the game and the Giants trailing 14–10, Eli led an incredible 83-yard drive. During this drive, he made a famous play where he escaped several defenders and threw a pass that David Tyree caught by pressing the ball against his helmet. A few plays later, Plaxico Burress caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with only 35 seconds left, giving the Giants a 17–14 lead and the win!
Eli Manning was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLII. He and his brother Peyton are the only brothers to both play quarterback in the Super Bowl and to both win Super Bowl MVP awards.
2008 Season: Another Division Title
The Giants started the 2008 season strong, winning nine of their first ten games. Eli often led exciting fourth-quarter comebacks. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. Eli was also selected for his first Pro Bowl, an honor for the best players in the league. The Giants finished with a fantastic 12–4 record and were the top seed in the NFC playoffs. However, they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.
2009 Season: Career Highs
In August 2009, Eli signed a big contract extension. He started the season well, even achieving a perfect passer rating in one game against the Oakland Raiders. He also threw for a career-high 384 passing yards against the Atlanta Falcons. Eli finished the 2009 season with career bests in passing yards (4,021) and touchdowns (27). The Giants ended the season with an 8–8 record and missed the playoffs.
2010 Season: More Yards and Touchdowns
In 2010, Eli continued to put up big numbers. He threw for over 4,000 yards again and set a new career high with 31 touchdowns. He also completed a then-career-high 85-yard touchdown pass. The Giants finished the season with a 10–6 record, but narrowly missed the playoffs.
Second Super Bowl Championship in 2011!

Before the 2011 season, Eli made headlines by saying he considered himself an "elite" quarterback. Many people doubted him, but he proved them wrong!
2011 Regular Season
The Giants had a slow start but then won three games in a row, including a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Eli had 254 passing yards and four touchdowns in that game. Later in the season, he led a dramatic last-minute comeback win against the New England Patriots, reminding everyone of Super Bowl XLII. In a key game against the New York Jets, Eli tied an NFL record with a 99-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz. The Giants finished strong, winning the NFC East title and making the playoffs. Eli earned another Pro Bowl nomination.
2011 Playoffs
The Giants were once again underdogs in the 2011 playoffs.
- Wild Card Round: They easily defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24–2.
- Divisional Round: They shocked the defending Super Bowl champions, the top-seeded Green Bay Packers, winning 37–20. Eli threw three touchdowns in this game.
- NFC Championship: In a thrilling overtime game, the Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers 20–17. Eli set new playoff records for the Giants with 32 completions and 316 yards. This win sent them back to the Super Bowl for a rematch against the New England Patriots.
Super Bowl XLVI Victory
In Super Bowl XLVI, Eli once again led the Giants to an upset victory over the Patriots, winning 21–17. This was his second Super Bowl win and the fourth for the Giants team. Eli led an 88-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes. On the game-winning play, Ahmad Bradshaw scored a touchdown, even though Eli was yelling at him not to, to try and run out the clock. But the Patriots couldn't come back, and the Giants won!
Eli was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLVI again. The Giants also made history as the first Super Bowl team to win with fewer than ten regular season wins. Eli became the first quarterback to throw for over 4,900 yards and win a Super Bowl in the same season. After the win, Eli and the Giants had a big victory parade in Manhattan. He was ranked 31st among the top 100 players in the NFL by his fellow players.
Later Seasons and Retirement
Eli continued to play for the Giants for several more seasons.
- 2012 Season: He had a career-best 510 passing yards in one game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished the season with 26 touchdowns and was selected for his third Pro Bowl.
- 2013 Season: Eli set a franchise record for most passing yards in a season opener. He also passed Phil Simms to become the Giants' all-time leader in passing yards.
- 2015 Season: He signed a new four-year contract. He threw a career-high six touchdowns in one game against the New Orleans Saints. He finished the season with a career-high 35 touchdown passes and was selected for his fourth Pro Bowl.
- 2016 Season: Eli led the Giants back to the playoffs with an 11–5 record. He also won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his work off the field.
- 2017 Season: Eli's streak of 210 consecutive starts ended when he was benched for a game. However, he returned as the starter shortly after. He passed John Elway to become sixth all-time in NFL passing yards.
- 2018 Season: Eli continued to be the Giants' starting quarterback, throwing for over 4,200 yards.
- 2019 Season: This was Eli's final season. The Giants drafted Daniel Jones, who eventually took over as the starting quarterback. Eli played in four games that year, including a memorable final home game where fans gave him a standing ovation.
On January 22, 2020, Eli Manning announced his retirement from professional football. The Giants honored him by retiring his number 10 jersey and inducting him into the Giants' Ring of Honor on September 26, 2021. Eli became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
"The Manning Bowl"
Eli and his brother Peyton played against each other three times in regular season games. These games were nicknamed "The Manning Bowl." Peyton's teams won all three matchups. They also faced each other in two Pro Bowls. However, they never played against each other in the Super Bowl.
After Football
After retiring, Eli Manning joined ESPN as an NFL analyst. He co-hosts a show called the Manningcast with his brother Peyton, where they watch and comment on games with special guests. Eli also hosts "Eli's Places" on ESPN+, exploring college football history.
In 2009, Eli, Peyton, and Archie Manning wrote a children's book called Family Huddle. It tells the story of how the three brothers played football when they were kids.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Eli Manning para niños