For one week earlier in the season, it appeared that Eli Manning’s long and successful tenure with the New York Giants was coming to an end. But now that the team is under new management, there have been many indications that the two-time Super Bowl MVP will be back under center with the Giants in 2018.
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that Giants general manager Dave Gettleman told Manning in a meeting earlier this month that he wants him to remain the team’s starting quarterback next season. However, Gettleman was honest in telling Manning that the Giants, who have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, will evaluate quarterbacks.
Manning is under contract with the Giants for two more seasons, so it makes sense that they would want to keep him around while grooming a young quarterback. We saw how fans in New York feel about Manning when former head coach Ben McAdoo chose to bench the 37-year-old in favor of Geno Smith, so hanging onto Manning would be wise from a football and business standpoint.
According to Mortensen, Manning expressed no concerns over the Giants potentially drafting and developing his successor. Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who is expected to be hired as New York’s next head coach, reportedly also offered a “favorable impression” of Manning when he interviewed with the team.
Gettleman has been very complimentary of Manning since he was hired by the Giants, so the latest report is not a surprise.
