Eli Manning Won’t Enter Pro Football Hall of Fame In 2026

Early vote indications for the Pro Football Hall of Fame aren’t looking good for former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Early voting counts suggest Manning will not have enough votes to enter the Hall of Fame. This is his second year of eligibility. Although votes aren’t required to be public, it was reported that Manning didn’t come close in his first year on the ballot.

Manning’s Hall of Fame candidacy has long been the center of sports debates.

He has two main arguments in his favor. The first is his ability to raise his level of play in the playoffs. Manning is one of 13 QBs who have won multiple Super Bowls. Manning is one of six players with multiple Super Bowl MVPs. His 1,219 yards in the 2011 playoffs are a record that stands to this day.

The second argument would be his longevity. Manning retired top 10 in passing yards and passing TDs, and is currently ranked 11th in both. In 2018, at the age of 37, he threw 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 4,299 passing yards. Few QBs have managed to keep this level of play for that long, let alone with an offensive line as bad as the 2018 Giants’ offensive line. 

The two things holding his candidacy back are his interceptions and his lack of regular-season consistency. Manning led the league in interceptions three times. Although Hall of Famer Brett Favre did this as well, he’s also a three-time MVP. Manning, meanwhile, has a pretty empty regular-season resume. He made four Pro Bowls and never got an MVP vote. 

Manning can be on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot up to 25 years after his retirement. In 2025, Manning said he was “at peace” with not being in the Hall of Fame, acknowledging that he played in a strong era and that the selection process is tough.