Five interesting details about the retired Eli Manning

Eli Manning (Google Images)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning officially announced his retirement on Friday. The retirement should come as no surprise as his family, including older brother Peyton, could be seen attending Eli’s final NFL games this season when he was starting over the injured Giants quarterback Daniel Jones of Charlotte, North Carolina. Here are five interesting facts about Eli Manning.

5) Eli Manning was born in New Orleans. Eli was destined to be a quarterback. His father Archie quarterbacked the Saints from 1971 to 1982 and Eli was born in 1981 when Archie was wrapping up his playing career. Following Archie’s 12 seasons with the Saints, he finished his career with short periods with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings. We also all know how good Eli’s brother Peyton was quarterbacking the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

4) Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. In 2004 after playing in the NCAA with Ole Miss, Eli was drafted first overall by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL Draft. However, Eli indicated that he would refuse to play for the Chargers, much like Eric Lindros refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques after being drafted by them first overall in the 1991 NHL Draft. The Chargers came to an agreement with the New York Giants and traded Eli Manning to the Big Apple for Philip Rivers and three draft picks.

3) Eli Manning has the NFL record for the longest touchdown pass. Thirteen times quarterbacks have thrown a 99 yard touchdown pass, the longest pass in NFL history. Eli Manning was the last quarterback to achieve the feat–in a 29-14 Giants win over the New York Jets on December 24, 2011. Manning found Victor Cruz and put the Giants up 9-7 at the time.

2) Eli Manning is one of five players to be Super Bowl MVP twice. Two times Eli Manning led the Giants to the Super Bowl championship. The first time was in 2008 and the second time was in 2012. Both times the Giants beat the New England Patriots. The only other players to have been named the Super Bowl MVP more than once are Tom Brady of the Patriots (four times), Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers (three times), Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers (twice) and Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers (twice).

1) Eli Manning holds record for most passing yards in one NFL postseason. In the 2012 NFL playoffs, Manning set the record for most passing yards in one postseason with 1219. He had 277 passing yards in a 24-2 Giants win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Wildcard on January 8, 330 passing yards in a 37-20 Giants win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff on January 15, 316 passing yards in a 20-17 Giants win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship on January 22 and 296 yards in the Giants 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on February 5 from Indianapolis.