Eli Manning is one of the all-time greatest pranksters, athlete or otherwise.
The ex-New York Giants legend has pulled off some epic, hilarious pranks on his teammates, including on rookies … but he’s now getting pranked by kids, of course.
And as he told For The Win this week in a Q&A, the pranks on Giants players haven’t stopped.
We’ll get into that and some other stuff in a moment. Manning spoke to us while promoting IBM’s work with ESPN Fantasy Football, in which managers can use Trade Analyzer and Player Insights to help them make decisions on deals and lineups.
(This interview has been condensed and edited.)
I once said you were the NFL's all-time greatest prankster. So what pranks have you pulled lately?
It’s a lot of simple things. I still go around to the Giants’ facility, so if I get there early, sometimes I go into the QB meeting room. Maybe I draw a picture in their notebook or in the playbook, or leave something under a stack or set something up on a computer screen. Just a little present or a laugh or a “What’s going on here?” I try to write in their penmanship and it might be something that has nothing to do with the game.
It’s not hurting anybody. I never know the reaction, I never bring it up, I don’t want them to know it’s me.
Speaking of pranks: How long did it take to get the makeup for the Chad Powers bit on "Eli's Places"?
Eli Manning went undercover at Penn State as walk-on "Chad Powers" and it's absolute gold. pic.twitter.com/jaEYqBRcMh
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) September 19, 2022
It took two hours of sitting there. The hard part was: For an hour, you can’t talk or move. So I just sat there for an hour straight. I put some headphones in and listened to music. I couldn’t sing along, which is hard, I like to belt it out.
We've seen a certain fictional football character become a successful, award-winning series. So I ask: Is Chad Powers the next Ted Lasso?
That’s a wild idea. Who knows where this thing’s going? For me, it was bringing a great story of walk-ons, but it’ll be fun to see where this might go or anything in the future for Chad.
If Ted Lasso has taught us anything, we should expect a Chad Powers TV show in 5-10 years
— Moshe Kravitz (@MosheKravitz) September 24, 2022
Alright, what's worse: The Butt Punt or the Butt Fumble?
is this the greatest photo of all time pic.twitter.com/QhSZ2BiA2o
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
The Butt Punt was pretty funny. You’re blocking someone and a ball gets punted right into your butt. “What just happened?!” That never happens! There’s no other circumstance where that happens.
It was also such a critical point in the game, you’re trying to kick it off and, uh-oh, it changes what could happen going forward. When there’s a bad play when you win the game, it’s easier to laugh and embrace it. They could laugh about it.
So you're playing fantasy football now?
What's my secret to #fantasyfootball success?
I trade with confidence on the @ESPNfantasy app, where @IBMWatson's #AI highlights my team's needs, rates trades and players to maximize my upside. #IBMAthlete pic.twitter.com/6SZmF7pj7d
— Eli Manning (@EliManning) September 22, 2022
Fantasy football is new for me. I didn’t play fantasy while I was playing in the NFL. Two years ago, I retired and started playing. I was not very good, I didn’t understand you don’t just draft your buddies or draft Giants and guys you know. I got a little personal, a little emotional. I was trying to get them to check out of plays.
My daughter and I are on a team in a league against other dads and kids.
OK, I've got to ask: What's your team name?
The Jersey Boys.
Any famous people in your league?
It’s buddies from high school, college, buddies of buddies … we wanted to put together a league with friends and their kids. There’s a text chain with some trash talk.
I'm shocked people would want to trash-talk a legendary QB who's won two Super Bowls.
You can’t be sensitive in this league!
