Eli Manning to retire after 16 seasons, two Super Bowls
Eli Manning, who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles in a 16-year career that saw him set almost every team passing record, has retired.
The Giants said Wednesday that Manning would formally announce his retirement on Friday. The recently turned 39-year-old’s future had been in doubt since the end of the season. Manning’s contract with the Giants expired after the 4-12 season and there was little chance he would be returning after losing his longtime starting job to rookie Daniel Jones.
“For 16 seasons, Eli Manning defined what it is to be a New York Giant both on and off the field,” John Mara, the Giants’ president and chief executive officer said in a statement. “He represented our franchise as a consummate professional with dignity and accountability.”
The Giants acquired Manning from San Diego on draft day in 2004 after the Ole Miss quarterback told the Chargers he did not want to play for them and forced the deal.
It started a major turnaround for a team that was 4-12 the previous season.
Manning replaced Kurt Warner as the starter after nine games. The Giants won the NFC East the following season.
Within three seasons, the Giants won their first NFL championship since the 1990 season and Manning got his first Super Bowl MVP award, knocking off the previously unbeaten New England Patriots. The second came after the 2011 season when Manning and company again beat the Patriots.
Manning was the only player in Giants history to play 16 seasons. His 236 regular-season games (234 starts) and 248 total games are team records.
Manning is sixth in NFL history with 8,119 attempts and seventh with 4,895 completions, 57,023 yards and 366 touchdown passes.
ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR BROWN » A warrant has been issued for the arrest of free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown following accusations that he and his trainer attacked another man near Brown’s Hollywood, Florida, home. Hollywood police spokesman Christian Latta said in a news release that Brown faces charges of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief.
Officers responded Tuesday afternoon to a disturbance call, where the alleged victim said Brown and his trainer, Glen Holt, hit him, police said. Holt was arrested a short time later and charged with one count of burglary with battery.
Officers attempted to make contact with Brown but were unsuccessful, Latta said.
RATINGS DIP FOR CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES » It’s no secret. Better games produce better ratings.
That was the simple lesson for the NFL this week, after a dip in viewership for its conference championship games, compared to 2019. The Nielsen company said 42.8 million people watched the 49ers beat the Packers to punch their Super Bowl ticket, and 41.1 million people watched Kansas City beat Tennessee.
Both conference title games went into overtime last year, and the audiences were 44.2 million and 53.9 million, Nielsen said.
TEXANS’ REID TO HAVE SURGERY » Houston safety Justin Reid confirmed that he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder throughout the 2019 season and will undergo offseason surgery. Reid was a thirdround draft pick by the Texans in 2018 out of Stanford.