Bill Belichick isn’t the only notable name left off this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame list. According to The Athletic, former Giants quarterback Eli Manning will not be part of the 2026 induction class. This was Manning’s second year on the ballot; he reached the finalists stage in both cycles.
Manning, 45, spent 16 seasons in the NFL and guided New York to two Super Bowl titles, both over the New England Patriots, earning Super Bowl MVP honors each time. His first triumph in Super Bowl XLII ended New England’s bid for a perfect season, and in Super Bowl XLVI he threw for 296 yards and a touchdown while leading a fourth-quarter comeback to secure the win. Those game-winning performances are among the most iconic for any quarterback, yet his overall Hall of Fame candidacy has been hotly debated. While he made four Pro Bowls and has two rings, Manning never earned All-Pro honors nor topped the league in major passing categories like yards, touchdowns or passer rating.
Manning was one of 15 modern-era players who reached the final vote in December; 50 voters later reduced that group to seven. Voters will choose the inductees from those finalists, with each player needing at least 80% of the vote to gain entry. Separately, a seniors committee advanced Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood through their own process. The full 2026 Hall of Fame class will be revealed at NFL Honors on Thursday, February 3.
Fan take: This matters because Manning’s exclusion underlines how the Hall increasingly weighs career statistics and individual awards alongside postseason success—something that could reshape how quarterbacks are judged going forward. For fans, the debate keeps conversations about legacy and what truly defines greatness in the NFL alive and contentious.
