In the 24 hours since New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning announced his retirement from football, the outpouring of love, support and appreciation has been overwhelming.
From countless former teammates to many of his opponents over the course of 16 years, the theme has been the same: Eli is a great talent, a clutch performer and above all else, an upstanding person.
In a Thursday release, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shared those sentiments.
“Eli Manning leaves an indelible imprint on the New York Giants, their fans, and the NFL. His passion for the game, intense preparation, and ability to rise to the occasion were the hallmarks of his career,” Goodell wrote.
“Eli holds a special place in history, not just for hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and being named Super Bowl MVP twice, but for how he transcended the game with the way he carried himself around teammates, media, and — most importantly — fans. That’s one of the many reasons he was named Walter Payton Man of the Year.
“On the field and in the community, he was a champion. He was also a true competitor and held himself in the highest standard in everything he did. We know he’ll carry that same spirit with him into the future.”
Goodell could not have asked for a better representative of the league, and the Giants could not have asked for a better representative of the organization.
