Eli Manning Enjoys Letting Personality Shine Through In Retirement

Eli Manning was always considered the more reserved of the quarterbacking brothers during his long career with the New York Giants.

While Peyton Manning was burnishing his reputation as a fun-loving guy and consummate pitch man during his time with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, Eli didn’t make any waves despite playing the most marquee position in sports in the nation’s largest market.

Eli Manning kept his head down for 16 seasons and led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, being named the game’s MVP both times. He was also selected to four Pro Bowls while taking the Giants to the playoffs on six occasions.

However, Manning’s true personality has started to show since he retired following the 2019 season. It turns out he is funny and has a flare for promoting products just like his older brother.

“When I was playing in New York, it was just I didn’t want them to think I did anything but play football and that this was all I was focused on and worried about,” Manning said. “It was about playing football and trying to win games for them. I didn’t want to disappoint them. I didn’t want to be out there and have them thinking I was doing something silly or doing something that was distracting me from my job.”

Manning doesn’t have to worry about the sometimes-harsh spotlight of New York anymore.

He and Peyton are in their second season of hosting the popular ManningCast on ESPN2 for selected Monday Night Football games. Running concurrently with ESPN’s traditional broadcast of MNF games, the Mannings have a steady stream of guests and the freedom to add deeper analysis of the play on the field.

Eli Manning has become a popular product endorser, including humorous spots for Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and Quaker Oats.

“I think I’ve always taken my job very seriously, but I’ve never taken myself too seriously,” Manning said. “So, I’m willing to put myself out there trying different things. And just try to enjoy the moment and be excited about things and I think that kind of is the attitude with Peyton and doing Monday Night Football or doing some other projects. Just to put myself out there, have some fun. do different things that I’m excited about and that I can just laugh about and not worry about making a mistake.”

Manning’s latest project is of a more serious nature. He is taking part in promoting the Quaker Hunger Clock in partnership with Feeding America.

Quaker’s goal is to raise $500,000 for Feeding America by the time Super Bowl LVII kicks off Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz., as part of the company’s commitment to help stop hunger and increase food security.

Quaker will match every donation to Feeding America up to $250,000. Every donation made through QuakerHungerClock.com prompts a change in the Hunger Clock as it simultaneously counts down to the Super Bowl and counts up Quaker’s goal of funding for five million meals donated.

Quaker says $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Quaker will make a minimum contribution of at least $150,000.

Manning says he has eaten oatmeal nearly every morning for the past 15 years. Thus, he felt it made plenty of sense to work with Quaker both on commercials and in a charitable endeavor.

“Anytime the opportunity to help others that are going through a tough time and the fact that the United States has a hunger issue going, it just seemed right to link with Quaker,” Manning said. “It’s a great initiative and I’m happy to be able to join forces with them.

“Hunger is something I’ve never, ever had to worry about or think about. When you think about families or kids out there that are hungry and don’t have food options and some of the food options that they do have are not very good for you, so to team up with a company like Quaker and make sure they’re not only getting food but getting nutritious food is very important.”

The Hunger Clock will be set up outside State Farm Stadium in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

Manning, of course, knows all about playing in the Super Bowl. Perhaps his old team will be there as the Giants are off to a surprising 4-1 start under first-year coach Brian Daboll.

The Giants haven’t been to the playoffs or won more than six games in a season since 2016.

“It’s been fun to watch,” Manning said. “All the games have been exciting and have come down to the fourth quarter, the last couple of drives of the game making a difference. That’s a great quality to have for a team is the ability to win games down the stretch, to find a way to win.

“It might not be perfect at all times. There’s room for improvement in certain areas. But hey, when it comes down to it, it’s ‘can we win this game?’ and they are doing that.”