Eli Manning Says 2004 Chargers Rift Drove No. 1 Pick to Giants
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 17
Eli Manning Says 2004 Chargers Rift Drove No. 1 Pick to Giants
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 17
Eli Manning said internal fighting among the Chargers' coach, general manager and owners convinced him in 2004 to avoid playing for the franchise despite being the No. 1 overall pick.
A New Orleans dinner with Marty Schottenheimer, A.J. Smith and the Spanos family crystallized that view, Manning said, describing bickering that made the team seem uncommitted to building a winner.
The decision led to a draft-day trade to the Giants for Philip Rivers, giving Manning an early path to the starting job instead of likely sitting behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie in San Diego.
That move reshaped both franchises: Manning spent his entire career with New York, won 2 Super Bowls and 2 Super Bowl MVPs, while the Chargers still have not returned to the Super Bowl since 1994.
How did Eli Manning's draft-day choice inadvertently help the Pittsburgh Steelers build a two-time Super Bowl winning team?
Will Eli Manning’s power play set a precedent for his nephew, top prospect Arch Manning, in the 2027 NFL draft?