Eli Manning's Hall of Fame Case Sparks Bold Debate

As such, Manning’s Hall of Fame case has sparked bold debate.

On one hand, the most obvious part of his resume certainly seems like a Hall of Famer. He won two Super Bowls – one of 13 quarterbacks to do so – and won a Super Bowl MVP in each game. Both times, he took down the New England Patriots and Tom Brady, the first of which came against a 16-0 team marching toward a perfect season.

His second run set the record for passing yards in a single postseason (1,219 yards).

As a starter for 14 years, Manning also has impressive volume stats. He ranks 11th in all-time passing yards and touchdowns.

The rest of his profile, though, harbors doubt about his legitimacy as a true Hall of Famer.

Manning finished his career with a 117-117 record in the regular season. He never earned an MVP vote and never made an All-Pro team. He made four Pro Bowls and made the playoffs in just four seasons outside of his Super Bowl runs. He didn’t win a playoff game in any of them.

Manning led the league in interceptions (and threw at least 20) three times.

He’s iconic, one of the best players in Giants history, and embodied the franchise quarterback role well. Yet, he was never an elite quarterback, was well behind the passers that defined his generation, and his rate stats trended far closer to average than his career totals would suggest.

At its core, Manning’s case is one of Hall of Fame philosophy. If the voters are lenient and believe in a large enough Hall for the biggest storylines in the sport, he’ll get a gold jacket. If they prioritize true talent and identifying the best to ever play the game, Canton may not be big enough for a second Manning.