NEW YORK _ George Schmidt teaches fourth grade Monday through Friday at Forrest Elementary School in Fair Lawn, N.J.
But on Sunday mornings for the last 15 years, Schmidt has stood as a security guard outside the Giants' locker room. And that meant greeting Eli Manning before every home game for most of his 16-year NFL career.
"Good morning. Merry Christmas," Manning, 38, said Sunday with a smile, switching his garment bag to his left hand to shake Schmidt's.
"He's always been a gentleman," Schmidt, 57, told the Daily News after holding the door for Manning. "Even since he was a kid and he first got here."
Manning's consistency in how he has represented the Giants, in how he has treated people, in how he has never missed an NFL start due to injury: these are rare qualities in any walk of life, including professional sports.
Put two Super Bowl MVPs on top and it's no wonder Manning received several standing ovations on Sunday before and during what may have been his final NFL start.
So if this was Manning's last hurrah, at least he went out on a win.
It was startling how few fans stayed for Manning's ceremonial exit from the game on the Giants' final drive. But those who remained sent him out the right way, with loud cheers that got Manning choked up.
He teared up on the Jumbotron, nodded, and gave a thumbs up. Father Archie and mother Olivia watched from a suite above. He finished the game 20-for-28 for 283 yards, two TDs and three interceptions.
Now, to be clear, Sunday's 36-20 victory over the skeleton crew Dolphins certainly won't go in any museums. Manning threw three interceptions, two into the chests of Miami linebackers Vince Biegel and Jerome Baker that he never even saw.
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And his red zone pick to Baker early in the third quarter, which handed the Fins a field goal to cut the Giants' lead to 14-13, felt like it was going to turn the game for good. Manning's offense even went four-and-out on the next drive.
But punter Riley Dixon and long-snapper Colin Holba pinned the Dolphins deep. Rookie corner Sam Beal made a great tackle on Dolphins back Patrick Laird for a safety. And Manning hit Sterling Shepard for two big completions to set up the first of two Saquon Barkley rushing TDs to put the game away.
Understand: beating the Dolphins (3-11), who tanked their roster for more draft picks and a higher selection, is no amazing feat. MetLife Stadium had a lot of empty seats.
It is also easy to argue Manning shouldn't have even been playing, since rookie Daniel Jones seemed more than capable of starting on Sunday and playing through his high right ankle sprain.
Playing Jones also gives him learning experiences for the future. Manning running this offense has little ramifications or impact for anything past Sunday.
The Giants' last few seasons have been catastrophic, however, for both the franchise and their franchise QB. So they all got what they wanted Sunday: instead of ending his career on benchings that Manning considered premature in 2017 and 2019, it concludes on this win.
Manning's career record also improves back to .500 for his regular season career at 117-117 for his Hall of Fame resume. Monday night's dreadful loss in Philadelphia had plummeted him below that meaningful mark.
But his 51-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate, and his likely final NFL TD pass, six yards to Darius Slayton, were reminders that Manning believes he can still do it.
And as he ran off into the tunnel, No. 10 was greeted by his family. And he stepped off, most likely, into his next chapter of life.
