One of the smallest Pro Football Hall-of-Fame classes in 20 years did not include a number of the biggest names up for induction – with one omission being the most notable in the fans’ eyes.
On Thursday night, at the NFL Honors, the Class of 2025 was announced with just four players being sent to Canton, Ohio for enshrinement.
Defensive tackle Jared Allen, defensive back Eric Allen, tight end Antonio Gates, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe were all included into this year’s class.
However, among the notable names not included in the list one stood out among the rest: former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning is best known for winning Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI – beating the New England Patriots both times and winning each championship game’s respective MVP award.
However, Manning doesn’t have nearly as many accolades, high-caliber statistics, or career consistency for voters to include him in this year’s Hall of Fame class. This was his first year of eligibility.
Jared Allen (facing camera) hugs Antonio Gates after both are named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 at the NFL Honors award show in New Orleans on Thursday evening
Eli Manning, who was up for induction into the Hall-of-Fame, was not included in the class
Manning has won two Super Bowl titles, but didn’t get in on his first possible ballot
Eli was only named to four Pro Bowls in his career. He never led the league in passing yards or passing touchdowns (he did lead the league in interceptions three times), was never named to an All-Pro team, and only made the playoffs in six of his 15 seasons. He also has only seven winning seasons in that span and a career record of just 117-117.
Despite this, many fans were outraged that he wasn’t included in this year’s Hall-of-Fame class – with some calling it the biggest snub of the night.
‘How is Eli not a Hall of Famer in his 1st year of eligibility?,’ former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Another fan posted, ‘An absolute disgrace by the NFL not putting Eli Manning in the hall of fame.’
One fan wrote, ‘Eli Manning not getting into the Hall of Fame is an abomination. 2 Super Bowls and beating the best team ever in the biggest possible moment. That alone warrants acceptance.’
‘imagine a qb who has 2 super bowl wins, 2 super bowl mvps, is 11th all time in passing yards and passing tds and yet hes not a 1st ballot hall of famer. eli manning remains the most underrated and misrepresented player of all time,’ said another.
Another wrote, ‘Biggest snub of the night. Deserving to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. @EliManning #nflhonors’
‘Eli manning might be the only QB who’s not given credit for his rings even tho they only happen bc of him. He should 100% be a first ballot,’ said another fan.
Some fans said Manning being left out of the Hall of Fame was the ‘biggest snub of the night’
Other major snubs included former linebacker Luke Kuechly (L) and kicker Adam Vinatieri (R)
The protestations of some fans is not enough for Manning – or some of the other major snubs – from getting into Canton this year.
In fact, the fans may say Manning is the biggest snub, but that honor might be more aptly bestowed upon former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly or legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Kuechly had a short career at just eight seasons, but his Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013, five first-team All-Pro selections, seven Pro-Bowl selections and inclusion on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team should be more than enough for him to make the Hall.
As for Vinatieri, he’s the NFL’s all-time leader in points scored and holds the record for most consecutive field goals made, most career field goals made (and attempted) most seasons with over 100 points, and most combined regular season and postseason games played of any kicker.
Add his four Super Bowl championships (Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVII, and XXXIX with New England plus Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis), three first-team All-Pro selections, three Pro-Bowl nods, and his inclusions on both the NFL 2000s All-Decade team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and it’s clear Vinatieri deserves eventual inclusion.
