EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ John Mara was able to hold his emotions in check for much of Friday. The butterflies were there, to be sure, but the co-owner and team president of the New York Giants had known this day was coming for a while.
Saying good-bye to Eli Manning is something for which the entire franchise has been preparing. There were plenty of memories shared of Manning throughout the morning, yet one remains fresh in both Mara's mind and his heart.
"The last game of the 2004 season, Eli's rookie year, when he took us down the field at the end of the game in the closing seconds to beat Dallas," Mara said. "It was the last game my father (Wellington) ever saw. And I can remember walking to the locker room with him afterwards, and him saying to me, 'I think we found our guy.' "
Mara paused before adding: "And how right he was."
After 16 years, Manning bid an emotional farewell to the NFL and the only football life he has known as a professional. His retirement Friday officially brings to an end his time in the capacity of the lone job he ever wanted: quarterback of the Giants.
There were laughs had and tears shed, poignant moments involving those closest to Manning from the past and present. His parents, Archie and Olivia, his wife Abby and their four children Ava, Lucy, Carolina and Charlie all had front row seats for the event.
Tom Coughlin and David Cutcliffe, the two coaches he credits most, were there, seated next to Ernie Accorsi, the general manager who helped deliver Manning to the Big Apple.
Dozens of players were there, too, from Hall of Famers Michael Strahan and Harry Carson, another Super Bowl MVP in Phil Simms to players that intersected his entire career, from Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress to Daniel Jones, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram.
All in attendance had gotten used to expecting Manning to deliver in big moments, especially late, so maybe it should have come as no surprise that No. 10 nailed the closing to his retirement speech _ appropriately enough, with a nod to The Duke.
"Wellington Mara used to say, 'Once a Giant, always a Giant,' " Manning said. "For me, it's only a Giant."
Manning's journey to becoming legend was challenging at the beginning.
He took over for Kurt Warner in November 2004 and endured six straight losses, including back-to-back ugly performances, including a 4 of 18 for 22 yards and two interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens.
"I remember when we decided to start him as a rookie, and right away, he plays Baltimore and he plays Washington," said Coughlin, who coached Manning for 12 of his 16 seasons. "And they blitz the heck out of him. He's on his back most of the time.
"He came in the office the following Monday (after the game against the Ravens) and (said), 'Coach, I really know I can do this. I didn't do very well yesterday.' The true humility of the man. That's a moment for me, but there's lots of moments."
The Giants will retire Manning's No. 10. He will be inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor at some point during the 2020 regular season.
For Manning, staying true to himself was ultimately the secret to being the face of Big Blue in this market for so long. Who would have thought a kid from New Orleans who played his college ball at Ole Miss could come to New York and win over a city that, for a while, wondered aloud as to whether he could live up to his last name and the hype?
That day he took the final snap of a decorated career and left the stadium not only with a victory, but with his family by his side, Manning was provided the ultimate snapshot of a football life well lived.
"This sport has very few real farewells," he said. "As the clock wound down on our win against the Dolphins (on Dec. 15) this season, I ran to my favorite place in the stadium _ the tunnel. I waved to our loyal fans, and then Abby and my kids ran out to meet me. That was my farewell, and a moment I'll cherish forever. There won't be any more tunnel moments for me, and I'll truly miss them. I'll miss standing in the shadows, staring out into the field before a game, surrounding by my teammates and knowing all the hard work we put in. I'll miss hearing the first roar of the crowd, triggering the knowledge that we had been given one more opportunity to go win a football game. It's impossible to explain the satisfaction, actually the joy I've experienced being a Giant. From the very first moment, I did it my way. I couldn't be someone other than who I am."
At 39, Manning certainly has become his own man. He walks away with his own legacy alongside father Archie and older brother Peyton, considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Eli Manning finished with 57,023 passing yards and 366 touchdowns, the most in Giants history. He is one of five quarterbacks to win at least two Super Bowl MVP trophies, beating Tom Brady and Bill Belichick _ and the Patriots _ on the biggest stage not once, but twice.
"It's a little surreal for me because I always knew that this day was going to come," Mara said. "But, I don't think you're ever quite prepared for it emotionally, at least I wasn't. The last couple of days, it really started to hit me, especially waking up this morning. He handled it the way he handles everything _ with dignity and class and professionalism."
Asked if the Giants have ever held a farewell event such as the one they put on for Manning Friday, Mara quipped: "No, I don't think so. But I also don't think there's ever been a player like this for our franchise, either."
