Mark Florio offered a blunt, tempered take, arguing the outcome aligns with the current selection process and the fact that Manning’s peak moments came in two Super Bowl runs. He highlighted Manning’s game-changing throws, including the famous Tyree bomb and the Manningham play, but questioned whether the overall body of work places him among the era’s best quarterbacks.
Florio also framed Manning’s omission as part of a broader pattern, noting that only Jim Plunkett, a two-time SB-winning starter, is in a similar category without induction, while others with comparable résumés (like Phil Simms and Ben Roethlisberger) are or will be enshrined. He Stressed that Manning should be in, but cautioned that patience may be required.
Manning was again a finalist this year after finishing as a finalist but falling short last year, competing with an elite group that included players such as Willie Anderson, Drew Brees, and Terrell Suggs, among others. Brees, Fitzgerald, and Vinatieri were seen as near-locks in the discussion surrounding the ballot.
From a career-wide perspective, Manning’s case remains compelling: two Super Bowl titles against Tom Brady’s Patriots, 57,023 passing yards and 366 touchdowns, and two Super Bowl MVP awards. He ranks 11th all-time in passing yards, and, outside of Brady and Patrick Mahomes, is among the most notable two-time Super Bowl MVPs not yet enshrined.
Looking ahead, next year’s ballot will feature potential first-ballot names such as Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Ben Roethlisberger, with only four to eight spots available under current rules. That crowded field makes a return to Canton a challenging path for Manning.
Beyond the Hall, Manning is expanding into entertainment, launching Eli At The Movies after a storied NFL career. The series sees him using his football insight to critique films on YouTube, complementing his established media presence with Manningcast on ESPN and Eli’s Places on ESPN+, as he navigates life after football while the Hall of Fame conversation persists.
