NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Eli Manning famously worked his way out of a situation with the then San Diego Chargers and found himself playing his entire NFL career with the New York Giants.
The 2004 move changed the trajectory of both franchises. The Chargers traded Manning to the Giants for Philip Rivers. The Giants would go on to win two Super Bowl titles with Manning under center, while the Chargers have not been to a Super Bowl since the 1994 season.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Eli Manning holds up a San Diego Chargers jersey after being selected first overall by the Chargers and then traded to the New York Giants during the 2004 NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 24, 2004. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Manning opened up about why he decided to wring out from the Chargers. He would have gone to a team coming off a 4-12 season under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. He likely would have sat behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie instead of getting a chance to show what he had with the Giants when thrust into the QB1 role over Kurt Warner.
“I just didn’t feel like they were the most committed team to win at the time,” he said on an episode of “Bussin’ with the Boys.” “Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach, who was great. Had a lot of respect for him. But they came to coach me in New Orleans, went to dinner, and there was just friction between the head coach, the general manager (AJ Smith), the owners (Spanos family). They’re all yelling — kind of like fighting.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning stands in the tunnel before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California on December 8, 2013. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
“We’re at a Marriott restaurant. Schottenheimer is crazy like, ‘We’re in New Orleans and we’re eating at a Marriott?’ He’s like mad. They are kind of arguments. There just didn’t seem to be much agreement on things and they were committed to building a great winning franchise at the time.”
Manning said his parents didn’t support the idea of trying to avoid being drafted by the Chargers, but allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl MVP with the Giants. He led a takedown of the undefeated Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in one of the bigger Super Bowl shockers in NFL history.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning poses with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Giants defeated the Patriots 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on February 5, 2012. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
He finished with 366 touchdown passes and 57,023 passing yards. He is 11th all-time in touchdown passes and passing yards. He is still waiting to hear his name called for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
