NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Eli Manning has mastered the art of building a life after football.
After hanging up the cleats as “always” and “only” a New York Giant for 16 seasons, Manning has remained heavily involved in football, adding broadcasting and even flag football coaching to his resume.
But there’s one aspect of the sport he’s never played that he’ll finally be able to check off his list.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning poses with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants defeated the Patriots by a score of 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The two-time Super Bowl MVP, along with Kylie Kelce, will headline Toyota’s Glow-Up Classic, a glow-in-the-dark flag football all-star game for outstanding Bay Area female athletes, played on the same field as the Pro Bowl. Toyota has donated $3 million annually to flag football and help more than 300,000 youth players across the country.
Brock Purdy and Jordan Love will serve as team captains, with Christian Gonzalez and Kyle Hamilton serving as defensive coordinators, and Puka Nacua and Michael Pittman Jr. they call offensive plays.
“This is amazing. I played flag football growing up, fifth, sixth, seventh grade and absolutely loved it. Loved that time. I thought that was a big part of my success in football, my love of football and where it came from. Now I have my kids playing flag football and I think it’s just a great way to introduce the game,” Manning told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview. “I think it’s great that more female athletes are playing flag football and getting involved in the game of football.”
NFC head coach Eli Manning celebrates after his team wins the tug-of-war challenge after the third quarter of the NFL Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
BRONCOS QUARTERBACK’S WIVES SHARE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AFTER BO NIX’S INJURY CAUSES MASSIVE SHOCK
Manning is well aware that football officials haven’t exactly been given the benefit of the doubt, especially after this past weekend, so he’s been watching extra film.
“We have studied ‘what is a catch?’ That’s the idea. These playoff games, we’ve got to figure out what’s a catch, what’s not. I think we got it down, said a confident Manning.
“I’m ready for whatever comes my way. It’s easy to watch a slo-mo play 25 times and figure out what the right call is, but to be there live in the action, it’s going to be fun.”
Manning has won three Pro Bowls as a coach since it became a flag football competition, all against his brother Peyton, who “is really the pinnacle of it all.” But with flag football coming to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Manning isn’t ruling out being on the sidelines.
“Hey, you never know,” he said. “It’s been so much fun the last few years coaching the Pro Bowl. Being around these great, great athletes, these guys buying into it. The NFL players in the Pro Bowl and the fact that we play flag football, but a lot of them played flag football growing up, and we’re excited to get back to that and not have to wear a helmet, after their good looks and what it was all about. it was fun to be a part of it.
NFC head coach Eli Manning runs during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium on February 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“But now I’m excited to be a referee. Now I’m just not affecting one team. I can be around all the teams and all the players and not have to root for just one team. I’m rooting for everyone and for the greater good of the game.”
