When the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026, one of the biggest storylines was once again the omission of former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Despite winning two Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVP awards, Manning was not selected by voters.
How Did NFL Media Respond to Eli Manning Being Left Out of the Hall of Fame?
Longtime NFL columnist Ralph Vacchiano, who has covered the Giants for decades, questioned how Hall of Fame voters weigh postseason success against regular-season efficiency when evaluating quarterbacks.
“The omission of Eli Manning is a lot less controversial than the omission of Bill Belichick. But it’s still partially a result of the incredibly flawed @ProFootballHOF process. However, there are also a LOT of voters on the committee just not convinced that Eli Manning belongs,” said Vacchiano on X.
Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, who reported on the Hall of Fame voting process, confirmed that Manning did not receive enough support from selectors this year. O’Connor reiterated that he still believes Manning belongs in Canton.
“Eli Manning belongs in the Hall of Fame as a Giants two-time Super Bowl MVP…. but unfortunately fell short this year,” O’Connor wrote.
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O’Connor posted a column in The Athletic, “From the outside looking in, Eli Manning does not come across as someone desperate to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is already a proud product of the NFL’s royal family and a two-time champ who is more prolific as a pitchman than he ever was as a passer.”
Furthermore, former coach Tom Coughlin weighed in on the decision, “Eli Manning is the greatest big-game quarterback I’ve ever been around. When the moment was biggest, he made the plays that won the game … against undefeated and dynastic teams.”
The Case for Eli Manning Remains Strong
Media personalities often point out what makes Manning stand out from other candidates. He was one of the league’s most durable but also reliable quarterbacks, starting 210 games in a row, and he played his best when it mattered most. When the world was watching, he was always consistent.
Manning is one of the few quarterbacks in NFL history to win more than one Super Bowl MVP award. Both wins came against the Patriots, led by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, including the game that stopped New England’s then-unbeaten season. Those moments are still some of the most memorable in Super Bowl history.
CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson, “Eli Manning has the most complex HOF case possible 2 SB MVPs/volume numbers/ironman streak are 1st ballot quality But, efficiency numbers more closely resemble Derek Carr/Carson Wentz I think he’ll get in at some point with a resume like Joe Namath.”
Eli Manning has the most complex HOF case possible
2 SB MVPs/volume numbers/ironman streak are 1st ballot quality
But, efficiency numbers more closely resemble Derek Carr/Carson Wentz
I think he’ll get in at some point with a resume like Joe Namathhttps://t.co/1BEN8t2ggQ
— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) January 29, 2026
What Comes Next
Manning remains one of the most debated Hall of Fame candidates of his era. While voters continue to weigh his consistency against his legendary playoff moments, many around the league believe his eventual induction is only a matter of time.
With each year that passes, the discussion grows, and Manning’s role in some of the most iconic games in NFL history remains impossible to ignore.
