New York Giants legend Eli Manning didn't make it to Canton in his first year of eligibility. There are a few reasons why

New York Giants notable quarterback Eli Manning reacted to his Pro Football Hall of Fame snub with grace, but his path to Canton remains uncertain as 2026's competition appears just as stacked

Arguably the biggest talking point from Thursday's "NFL Honors" awards show involved New York Giants legend Eli Manning failing to become a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Trade wars in NFL drafts shape team fortunes, evident in the 2024 draft trade of Xavier Worthy from Chiefs to Bills, and the 2004 swap of Eli Manning for Philip Rivers. Manning's recent Hall of Fame snub casts doubt on Rivers' first-ballot success in 2026,

Only four players made the Class of 2025, fewer than most expected given the relative strength of the group. Jared Allen, Eric Allen, Sterling Sharpe, and Antonio Gates will don gold jackets ahead of the Hall of Fame Game for their respective auditions in the summer.

To many New York Giants fans, retired quarterback Eli Manning should have been a slam-dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer. However, as is now known, not enough of the 40+ Hall of Fame voting committee members saw it that way.