Eli Manning has won many big games and experienced several special moments throughout his New York Giants career, but Sunday’s 36-20 victory will rank up there among the very best.
That has nothing to do with Manning’s performance (20/28 for 283 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT) or the team winning for just the third time this season. Rather, it has to do with how he was treated by the fans in what may have been his final NFL game.
With seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Manning was called to the bench and the thunderous ovation he received could likely be heard and felt for miles.
But that was merely the culmination of the day. Fans had been chanting, “Eli Manning! Eli Manning!” from the second they entered the stadium.
“Obviously, I don’t know what the future is. I don’t know what lies next week, let alone down the road,” Manning told reporters. “The support and the fans and their ovation and them chanting my name from the first snap to the end, I appreciate that. I appreciate them always.
“All my teammates coming up to me… It was a special day. A special win. One I’ll remember.”
An emotional Manning was not only cheered into the tunnel, he was immediately greeted by his wife, Abby, and their children, only adding to the sentimentality of the moment.
Giants co-owner John Mara also immediately found Manning in the locker room and the tears were drying on his face.
“I thanked him. He said, “thank you and congratulations,'” Manning said. “I shook a lot of hands and gave a lot of hugs today.”
Head coach Pat Shurmur then asked Manning to address a very lively locker room and he did, telling his teammates they had off on Monday and that he’d see them on Wednesday.
Shurmur did not have a Monday off planned for the team, but admitted he was in no position to argue with Eli.
