10 good minutes with Eli Manning

Jan 30, 2023 - 3:49 PM

New York Giants Quarterback And Private Equity Investor Eli Manning Interview" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_pf9L-enJSzzIvYov-czahjUO2c=/0x209:4000x2459/1920x1080/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71921216/1244803127.0.jpg" />

Eli Manning joined Big Blue View Radio on Monday, and we had a chance to touch on a wide variety of topics with the former New York Giants great. Here are some excerpts, with the full interview below.

On the Empire State Building being lit up in green after the Eagles reached the Super Bowl ...

Eli: “I’m all for good sportsmanship and congratulating teams when they do well, but I don’t know about going that far out of your way to support a division rival. The New York-Philadelphia rivalry is so intense, I thought that was a little extreme. That was a tough one to swallow last night. I could see why so many New Yorkers were a little upset by it.”

On the reaction to his return to Philadelphia after he said he would never go there again ...

Eli: “I had a special greeting. I wouldn’t say it was warm, but I think it was a fun-loving situation. I did bring my 11-year-old daughter with me. She definitely saw some gestures, learned a few new vocabulary words. We had to talk about whatever you see and hear in Philadelphia stays in Philadelphia, you can’t bring that back to school, don’t bring that back to mom. We don’t need you getting expelled.”

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

On Daniel Jones’ improvement ...

Eli: “I thought he just made really good decisions all year. Protected the football, ran really well, good play-action, throwing on the run, but when things weren’t there just continually made good decisions. There were enough of those situations early in games where he didn’t force things, he took sacks, protected the football, and just kept the games close, kept them close into the fourth quarter and they were able to make a run and win some of these close games.

“Proud of the way he played.”

On watching the Giants get back to the playoffs ...

Eli: “It was a fun year to be around. Went to most of the home games, went to London and watched them play, got to be around the locker room, around the facility when everybody’s happy, being around the coaches after wins and the players and ownership. It’s a good atmosphere when they’re playing well and winning games.”

On his favorite TV or commercial moment with his brother, Peyton ...

Eli: “It’s fun doing the commercial with him just because I don’t get to see him all that often. He lives in Denver, I live in New Jersey, we do the ‘Manningcast,’ I get to see his face on screen, but doing something live, in-person is always fun. We get to improv a little bit and go after each other and communicate about what we think was funny and try some new things — if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t matter. I’m excited about the Pro Bowl, coaching against him this week in Las Vegas.”

NOTE: Manning was available via a Super Bowl promotion with Quaker to invite fans to share how they “pregrain” before the Big Game for a chance to attend next year’s Super Bowl LVIII in person in Las Vegas. Quaker is launching a campaign asking fans to share how they prepare for Super Bowl Sunday with Quaker Oats for a chance to attend the Big Game next year in Las Vegas. To enter the Quaker “Pregrain” Contest, fans can head to TikTok to follow @Quaker, between January 30 and February 12, 2023 and upload their own “pregrain” video sharing how they pregrain with Quaker Oats along with a caption using hashtag #QuakerPregrain #Entry.