Eli Manning

National Football League quarterback Eli Manning currently plays for the New York Giants. Manning was originally drafted first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He was immediately traded to the New York Giants, because he expressed dismay about playing with the Chargers. He played nine games his rookie season with the Giants before taking over the starting quarterback spot in 2005.

Manning's initial performance on the team was inconsistent. He was held below 3,500 yards in the air and beneath a quarterback rating of 80.0 in four of his first five seasons.http://www.nfl.com/players/elimanning/careerstats?id=MAN473170 However, he became a more steady quarterback in the succeeding years, eventually leading the Giants to win the Super Bowl in 2008.

On December 16, 2008 Manning and his brother Peyton Manning became the first quarterback playing brothers to be selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in the same year. This was Eli's first selection onto the Pro Bowl. As a member of the Giants, he represented the NFC in the game.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3773906

During a preseason game against the New York Jets on August 16, 2010, Manning was hurt when he ran into Giants running back Brandon Jacobs on a busted play from scrimmage. After colliding with his running back, Manning was hit hard by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace and lost his helmet. He then fell face first into the facemask of Jets safety Jim Leonhard, causing a 3 inch gash on his forehead. After the play, Manning went to the bench, bleeding profusely from his head.http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5469375

He received 12 stitches to close the laceration and then underwent tests at a Manhattan hospital. According to Giants coach Tom Coughlin, Manning did not suffer a concussion and appeared to be fine after the game. The team, however, is using caution in deciding whether or not to play Manning in the next preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5471567

Eli Manning had a productive season in 2009-10. He passed for 4,021 yards, the highest figure of his career and the first time he had ever surpassed 4,000 yards in a season. He also threw for 27 touchdowns and a 93.1 quarterback rating, both career highs. http://www.nfl.com/players/elimanning/careerstats?id=MAN473170

Despite Manning's high numbers, the Giants closed the season 8-8, three games out of a wild card spot. Near the end of the season, they were blown out in their final two games, losing 41-9 and 44-7 against the Panthers and the Vikings, respectively. In the final game, Manning had his worst game of the year, finishing with only 141 yards of offense.

Manning was born the youngest child of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning. He is also the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. He and his brother are the only pair of brothers in NFL history to win Super Bowls as quarterbacks.

Manning attended and played for the University of Mississippi. In 2003, he led the team to a Cotton Bowl victory and was selected for several awards including the SEC Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award, given to the top college football player in the country.

Manning led the Giants to Super Bowl XLII in 2008 to face the undefeated New England Patriots. Regarded as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the league, the Giants defeated the Patriots 17-14. Manning threw a miracle pass late in the game, leading to a Giants touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game. Manning was selected as the Super Bowl MVP at the end of the game.