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Eli Manning got out of a situation with the then San Diego Chargers and found himself playing his entire NFL career with the New York Giants.
The move in 2004 changed the trajectory of both franchises. The Chargers traded Manning to the Giants for Philip Rivers. The Giants would win two Super Bowl titles with Manning under center, while the Chargers have not been to a Super Bowl since the 1994 season.
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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 in the 2004 NFL Draft at Madison Square Garden in New York on April 24, 2004. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
Manning explained why he decided to fight his way out of the Chargers. He would have joined a team that was coming off a 4-12 season under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. He probably would have sat behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie instead of getting a chance to show what he had with the Giants as he was thrust into the QB1 role opposite Kurt Warner.
“I just didn’t feel like they were the most determined team to win at the time,” he said on an episode of “Bussin’ with the Boys.” “Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach, he was great. He had great respect for him. But they came to practice with me in New Orleans, went to dinner and there was just friction between the head coach, the general manager (AJ Smith) and the owners (the 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)
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“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 pissed. They bicker a little. There didn’t seem to be much agreement on things and they were determined to build a great winning franchise at that point. »
Manning said his parents didn’t support the idea of trying to avoid being drafted by the Chargers, but they allowed him to do what he wanted to do.
Manning was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl MVP with the Giants. He led the elimination of the undefeated Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets 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, Indiana, February 5, 2012. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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He finished with 366 touchdown passes and 57,023 passing yards. He ranks 11th all-time in passing touchdowns and passing yards. He is still waiting for his name to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
