The Giants seem to believe Daniel Jones is the future, while Eli Manning’s legacy is in question
Eli Manning, the long-time starting quarterback for the New York Giants and two-time Super Bowl champion, was benched last Sunday. The Giants’ 2019 first-round draft pick, Daniel Jones out of Duke University, replaced Manning for Sunday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jones shined in his debut, bringing his team back from an 18-point deficit to win the game, giving the Giants their first victory of the season. He went 23 for 36 on pass attempts, threw for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Twenty-two-year-old Jones looks to be the quarterback of the future and Giants fans are excited for the injection of youth into the franchise. But what does the future look like for Manning and what will his legacy entail?
Manning started his career with the Giants in 2004. He took on the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI in 2007 and 2012, respectively. Both years the Patriots were heavily favored, and in Super Bowl XLII the Patriots were undefeated coming into the Super Bowl with an all-star lineup led by Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker.
Proving the football world wrong, Manning led his team to victory and was awarded Super Bowl MVP. He went on to receive another MVP in Super Bowl XLVI.
Fast-forward several years to the 2017 season, and Eli Manning wasn’t able to bring his team to the playoffs, instead leading them to a 3-13 season, second-worst in the league. In 2018 the Giants went 5-11, finishing last in the NFC East again. After Manning dropped the first two games in 2019, Giants’ head coach, Pat Shurmur, decided it was time to take a chance on the rookie Jones, sending Manning to the bench.
Manning’s career is by no means a letdown. His two Super Bowl victories put him in elite company, but the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately?” league. Giants fans are grateful for past wins, and many believe he is deserving of the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback Roger Staubach stated in an online interview, “I think he will (be in the Hall of Fame) when he finishes his career. I think he’s on the road there.”
The question now is what Manning will do. Pat Shurmur’s decision to start Jones shows that the organization has bought into the future. Manning is going to be the backup, and the only way he will start again is if Jones gets injured. Manning now has to look at two options: free agency or retirement. In an interview this summer, Manning said, “The end of it is a little closer than the beginning … but it’s not over.” This quote was before the coaching staff decided to start Jones, but the words “it’s not over” are still ringing in the ears of Manning.
Free agency is Manning’s best bet at being a starter again. It would not be surprising to see Manning get traded mid-season to a team in need of a quarterback to come in and bring a veteran presence. The teams that would most likely be looking for an immediate impact at the quarterback position are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins or Denver Broncos.
For the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger went down to a season-ending injury, and the team is looking to their young backup Mason Rudolph. If Rudolph is not up to the task, the Steelers could be on the hunt for Manning to come in and revive their season.
For the Redskins, they have been struggling to find a quarterback, and head coach, Jay Gruden is on the chopping block. A bold move could be made by Gruden to bring in Manning in hopes to win enough games so he can keep his job.
The last team that could potentially decide to pick Manning up is the Broncos. The Broncos have been struggling to find a replacement ever since Eli’s older brother, Peyton, retired following a win in Super Bowl L, in 2016. In the offseason, the Broncos brought in quarterback Joe Flacco, but they are currently 0-3, and a spark from Manning may be what the Broncos need.
For now, Daniel Jones will be the starter in New York with Manning as the backup. Legends such as Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, all with Hall of Fame careers with their original teams, moved on late in their tenures to different teams. Each of them found success without damaging their legacy, and each brought their veteran presence to their new team, producing wins. Manning has a chance to do the same, and his career has proven that you can never count him out.