FULL Story Behind Eli Manning's 2004 Draft Day Trade | New York Giants

In 2004, the Giants made a draft-day trade that brought an icon to the New York Giants.
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[@nygiants]

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[@samhalteman6421]

Eli = GOAT

[@notcheifkeef4310]

Love y’all niggas

[@adamashforthdrums]

Big Ben's agent wearing his emotions on his sleeve on camera like that is the best part of this video.

[@mclohan]

To me one of the craziest parts of this story is that the Chargers had Brees already 😂.

[@phame43rd]

Naw fr 😭

[@owfi]

Crazy to see this knowing Ben goes to Pittsburgh, Rivers goes to San Diego, and Eli goes the Giants. It's like reading a book but someone already told you how it ends.

[@theradiant_child]

Brees goes to the Saints too lol

[@ArpLaszlo]

I still cannot believe how Eli & DJ talk almost identically.

[@robsocks9389]

If only they played identically

[@thatdudee5344]

@@robsocks9389 They actually do. DJ has been going to Manning Academy since a teenager and had the same college coach as Eli & Peyton

[@LayneGerbig]

​@@thatdudee5344How'd that work out?

[@dwx6618]

In the end all three quarterbacks have been in the league over 10 years with playoff appearances and titles to show for it in Manning and Roethlisberger so for now this has been one of the more successful qb classes in a while. Each player and franchise really have no reason to complain as far as achievements go. If anyone can find the N'If'L series by Dave Dameshek where he goes on a what if explanation for Manning staying with the Chargers and Roethlisberger being a Giant, it could be entertaining to imagine the alternate path

[@TL2354]

All 3 don't have titles

[@jinnij.caiman]

No they don’t, lol

[@thenhl1015]

eli had so much pressure and hype at the time. His brother just won a NFL MVP and people expected him to do the same one day. Good for him winning two superbowls.

[@markel4745]

Eli, we love you and know Archie wanted you to be on the winning team

[@joemamaurmama]

I'm glad he came to us. A Great Giant. Love you Eli! Thanks for the Championships.

[@CrazzySaiyan]

That’s all your getting 2.

[@nighttime8215]

@@CrazzySaiyan lol

[@igotcutefeet6942]

@@CrazzySaiyan nah Daniel Jones the next mobile tom brady This is a joke the giants are bad

[@noahreeves05]

@@igotcutefeet6942aged like milk

[@gxdzfxrst2940]

@@CrazzySaiyan Something you'll never achieve though.

[@pdon9425]

1:08 nuff said. thanks Ben

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

All three are all-time great QBs with top 10 stats and bound for Canton. Ben and Rivers were better QBs, but I'll take Eli and his 2 SBs over them both. Go Giants.

[@Lokomotive819]

Ben got 2

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

@Hhgh Fhhfh Eli #10 all-time in career passing yards, completions, and touchdowns. And that's only 3 categories. There may be more. I looked that up in about 10 seconds. Just about as long as it took for you to say he doesn't have top 10 stats.

[@bigdaddyc7266]

Greatest trade in Giants history. Eli was tough as nails, he was clutch, quiet leader and hall of famer. I was lucky to see him play in two incredible Superbowls.

[@havenmil21]

Amen we could use him now have you seen him sling it recently the guys still got it

[@georgeorwell4534]

It’s over, and Archie and Eli was right.

[@jpguitar34]

You have to wonder what would have happened if they either kept Rivers, or took Ben. Though all said and done I'll take 2 Super Bowl wins any day.

[@andrewryan6531]

jpguitar34 the Giants would not have those two most recent Super Bowl championship title victories if they were to have kept Philip Rivers and not done the exchange swap for Eli Manning there man!! :D :D

[@christianokoye576]

Andrew Ryan agree

[@charlesbuckley5615]

Eli the great had ice water in his veins,Rivers barely won playoff games...Nuff said

[@andrewryan6531]

christian okoye Thank you 🙏

[@andrewryan6531]

Charles Buckley you are right and I most certainly can’t argue that either bro!

[@stewpidasso3910]

Steelers fan here. I appreciate what ben did for us but he seemed pretty douchy when he was younger. Eli was probably an even bigger douche refusing to play for the chargers though. Glad he went with New York at the end of the day though cuz he handed tom brady 2 ls

[@TL2354]

Eli did what the Steelers never could

[@jonopearson83]

Ben's agent made no sense to me

[@acepaul407]

That's why you're not rich. Leigh Steinberg is a multi-multi millionaire. He has more brain power than you, your illegitimate children and inbreed family combined.

[@RandomGuy285]

Comes across like a real doofus in this video

[@dnasty312]

He's just encouraging his client

[@charlesbuckley5615]

Funny how Ben said Eli couldn't handle the big city

[@chase6846]

My favorite player from 2006-2010 was Plaxico Burress. I still have all his football cards on the front page of my collection that I got and still own his aluminum Pepsi bottle. Eli is the best Qb in Giants History and will forever be my favorite player, but my favorite ACTIVE player is Saquon!!! So glad we got Eli instead of Rivers!!! Best trade in franchise history!!!!

[@poppashotta9732]

Everything worked out just fine and that's crazy

[@WesleyKane179]

Ben’s agent sounding like Palpatine at 9:13

[@christopherbrown3279]

Great video but they forgot Pat Tillman was killed by friendly fire not aa fire fight

[@CozyButcher]

Pat Tillman was killed my a machinegunner 10 meters behind him. Weird how an elite light infantry unit whacked one of their own, right? 20 years of war...you can't find another incident in the 75th of that nature. Not the same mate. Inshallah, don't live in riba.

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

I'm a Chargers fan from SD and I remember watching this like it was yesterday and furious that Manning would do such a thing. However, now that it's been over a decade later I look back at what he did and think he had a valid reason to reject San Diego. NFL is that certain sport where time is short and critical. Hell I hear people saying in week 5 how the teams chances are already dead. It takes teams forever to build, rebuild, constant coaching changes, etc. So when you've worked your whole life up to get to that moment where you are being drafted into the NFL, do you really want to be drafted to a team that has no potential? I'm not trying to bash on my team, but let's be real... our management sucks!

[@trolljones4386]

What especially made the choice clearer was the fact eli mannings father played for the terrible. Saints for over 10 years never even making the super bowl. His dad did not want to repeat what happened to him.

[@bambamrubble9165]

But other players don't get a say for who they play for, why should Eli? You go where you go and do your best imo.

[@pablovi77]

Then they should get rid of the draft! And 50% of the teams in the NFL! No player should ever want to go there right?

[@pablovi77]

@@trolljones4386 So? 90% of players never play in a Super bowl!

[@TheSSUltimateGoku]

@@trolljones4386 I never bought that theory I mean going by that logic why would Peyton Manning father want Peyton to play with Indianapolis? I think it just goes back that Eli’s father Archie just didn’t want him to play for the chargers it wasn’t about the franchise itself being a losing franchise it just they didn’t like the management that was in the chargers franchise at the time.

[@navilus1]

totally cool insight nice video

[@jbx.7995]

At the end of that year draft , big Ben delivers his super bowl then Eli got his rings to Rivers did magnificent work to

[@JOHNfolan-mo5yv]

ELI .....YOU WERE A GODSEND 4 NYG!!!!!

[@MichaelSilverMedia]

Eli is the 🐐 Seeing that slimy agent sweat it out was tremendous.

[@nandorodriguez3264]

Has to be the first and only one to not be excited being drafted #1

[@flash012234]

elway was 1st

[@DanielMontoya-de6of]

Instead of blaming the player blame the arrogance of the organization

[@MooreVanity]

so weird seeing this video in 2024. they were just kids. only 20-22 years old. now they’re all in their mid 40’s

[@ryanjiang2324]

Feel so bad for Roethlisberger but both quarterback balled out except for rivers lmao

[@bajah9601]

I disagree, I think it’s very hard to say those two balled out and then say Rivers didn’t because he didn’t win a Super Bowl, when Rivers has had a better career that both of them

[@joesakic91]

@@bajah9601 Unfortunately, Philip Rivers will be another Dan Fouts once his career is over unless something changes as an Indianapolis Colt: a QB with respectable stats that will get him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, but no Super Bowl titles nor Super Bowl appearances.

[@christianlavilla5886]

“I still like you eli” bahahahah

[@joesakic91]

That's why Ernie Accorsi earned his spot in the New York Giants Ring of Honor in Metlife Stadium: gambling on this deal and having AJ Smith take the bait. Eli Manning won two Super Bowls as a Giants, both in Tom Brady's expense while Philip Rivers, while he had a pretty good career with the Chargers, was another Dan Fouts, a QB with respectable stats that will possibly get him enshrined in Canton, but no Super Bowl titles nor Super Bowl appaearances.

[@jackmetrro]

I still can't believe people are bitter about this. And it's not even Chargers fans either! Which btw Chargers fans are some class act people. From what I've seen very loyal, nice and friendly....except to Chiefs fans.

[@bobbib5779]

everytime i watch this i wonder what ben was thinking during this whole thing

[@charlesbuckley5615]

The video isn't about Ben homie...The right man went number 1 that's all that matters

[@sace1608]

@@charlesbuckley5615 Ok "homie" . Wanna be cool or blk?

[@stewpidasso3910]

Workes out pretty good for ben going 11 though

[@jonathanscheitlin3346]

Love me some Eli. Roethlisberger would have been a great Giant too

[@JackOBee29]

Rivers started early with his big family

[@jesselancaster7]

It worked out for Manning, Rivers & Big Ben

[@brekerickson9664]

"Alright guys. Guess what? We're in play. *Eyes*" - Big Ben's agent. This had me dying lol Crazy to think between the three franchises you had Eli, Ben, Philip and Drew. Like you aint know what you got till it's gone lol

[@realpeople1652]

We need to fix that line and give DJ a chance so when is two championships or three championships against mahome boy

[@markjones2854]

Eli is the best one in the class🤷🏾‍♂️

[@CKWolf-kq5wz]

WRONG!!

[@mrvincentjackson]

REMEMBER: they announced the trade while SEAN TAYLOR was being picked!!

[@theofficialgreenkane9645]

Funny how it all shook out- Eli- 2 super bowls Ben- 2 super bowls Rivers- Future HOF'er

[@BogusOne]

Maybe chargers HOF not NFL

[@SergioFletes]

@@BogusOne let’s visit this in 5 years

[@dnasty312]

I'll also say if Indianapolis wasn't an ideal situation, Peyton wouldn't have been a Colt. Archie was not going to let his sons go to a hopeless situation like he had in New Orleans

[@jazzvalentino4871]

It’s arguable that Big Ben might’ve been the better player (career wise) but, character wise, as WE all know, he’s not even close to Eli. FUHGGETABOUTIT! Ultimate gentleman & hands down, one of the classiest person on & off the field. Even if WE can all go back to 2004, I still wouldn’t have changed a thing. ELI All The Way! 💪🏼 Fast forward to now or in last year’s draft, it would’ve been highly unlikely that we would’ve/could’ve gotten Danny🎯Dimes if Ben was our QB...Why? It’s coz DG wouldn’t have had the inside scoop on DJ the way that he did bc of David Cutliffe (yes, Eli’s & Peyton’s former coach). Not to mention, before being drafted, DJ8 went to the Manning Academy to learn from them (as y’all know). It’s a blessing that we got Eli. & who knows if Jerry Reese only took care of the OLine back then. 🤷🏻‍♂️ No doubt, Eli & The GMen would’ve gotten more SBs besides the ‘07 & ‘11. And guess what? Speaking of w/c, here we are in 2020, & I do hope DG takes care of that OLine for Danny & Saquon’s sake. Otherwise, what’s the point of drafting them that high...or drafting them for that matter if he doesn’t take care of them now (this Thursday). 🙏🏼 Don’t get me wrong. Simmons is a great player. A jack of ALL trades, master of NONE. This is turning into a book (my bad) but, If we don’t get a tackle ASAP in the first, all of the top 4 OL would be gone by the time we pick on our second (@36). It’s also possible, the top 5-6 tackles would be gone by time we pick 36 so...#TakeCareOfDannyDimesAndSaquadsNOW! 🙏🏼

[@egomez0604]

Can bens agent have any worse body language lol

[@ajantsmith6139]

Eli, Ben and Phillip were all great players. But obviously Eli being a Manning gave him the edge over the other 2 in the draft.

[@Skyrimdude1PSN]

Archie was great he would be HOF if he had an o-line

[@Eaglemna]

12:40

[@dylanmartino7975]

I’m not gonna say who I am, but I was very involved in Eli Manning’s camp and that draft and the reason was he didn’t want to go to San Diego because his brother Peyton Manning was in the AFC and Peyton Manning wanted him and Eli to have fair chances at winning the Super Bowl. He didn’t wanna have to compete against his brother if it came down to it and that was the reason so basically Peyton Manning is the reason why Eli Manning was a giant.

[@Jmurda1983]

I never understood why Eli didn’t want to go to the Chargers….did he think he was going to go to the 85 Bears? Usually when you get drafted that high you’re probably going to go to a bad team.

[@CrookedEyeSniper]

A paperboy informed Eli Manning that he was a NY Giant.

[@amaddenmind4597]

I call bs both teams talked behind closed doors because the chargers knew eli wasn't gonna play for them

[@dannyjoe3343]

I still don't understand why he or his agent or dad didn't want to play for San Diego. This explained nothing.

[@Incogn170]

Ryan Leaf was Drafted in the same class as Peyton. They saw what happened to Leaf in the Chargers and got spooked by that organization. So they wanted to do the trade so that Eli could be away from Dean Spanos (a real piece of work).

[@sc30002001]

Archie Manning called Ryan Leaf's dad and asked what did the chargers do help Ryan in his personal life Ryan's dad said nothing. So Eli Manning chose not to go to San Diego.

[@dylanmartino7975]

I was somebody very close and Eli Manning camp and even though they won’t admit it, even though Eli Manning and Peyton Manning is both retired these days the reason they don’t want him going to the charger was because Peyton Manning was in the AFC and Peyton Manning basically said he wanted him and his brother never to play against each other unless it was the Super Bowl or a regular season game that was my understanding. So basically Peyton Manning said go to the NFC and that’s what Eli did. That’s the real reason. Everything else is BS.

[@timothyhennon1510]

The way things have gone through Week 3 of the 2023 season, this fiasco is set to happen again if the Bears get the #1 pick and try to draft Caleb Williams.

[@townbidnezz206]

Bens agents had to be his uncle or something lol wtf

[@dulleyes4406]

Ben got carried his first Super Bowl with the worst stats ever but Eli actually worked for his rings

[@titanfighter12]

Just facts 💯

[@zeeski7454]

I love Eli and not a real big fan of Ben but both Eli and Ben had great teams being them their first Sb victories. Eli had a more active role and beat a beat team, but facts are facts. The second wins are a different story, Eli should have been in the discussion for mvp in 2011. He carried that team from start to finish

[@ahmedrahim2500]

Lol wtf? Roethlisberger is miles better than Eli

[@Hotstylez90]

🤣🤣🤣 you talking about that Giants defense that carried Eli

[@shaunbang]

Why was San Diego so unfavorable for all the players or was it more a QB thing?

[@julianjohnson517]

Just the QBs frl

[@amc3577]

I do wonder what would have happened had Ernie taken Rothlisberger.

[@yankeesgiants221]

I was surprised the Chargers didn't trade the 1st overall pick sooner. They already had Drew Brees, who was 25 at the time, so it wasn't like they were desperate for a QB. But, it all worked out, we got Eli, he won us 2 Super Bowls, and I'm happy. I just found it strange how the Chargers wanted a QB when they already had one

[@charlesbuckley5615]

Brees wasn't that great at the time.The Chargers benched Brees for Doug Flutie my friend!!Please do your research...Eli has more rings and playoff wins than Brees so they were on to something

[@yankeesgiants221]

At the time nobody knew Eli would win 2 Super Bowls. Acquiring Rivers got them no rings. AND San Diego lost their team. Either way, even with Tomlinson, Brees, Rivers, Gates, etc, they couldn't go all the way

[@charlesbuckley5615]

@@yankeesgiants221 Yes Ernie knew because Eli won the Cotton Bowl at Ole Mississippi with no talent around him!!No one that Eli played with in college made it to the NFL my friend

[@zeeski7454]

With all that talent the chargers still couldn't win which validated Eli's training for not wanting to go there. SD had an all time top qb/rb/te and some great defenses yet still couldn't win.

[@jtmfire1632]

Eli had a great Career Winning 2 Super Bowls

[@CrazzySaiyan]

Archie didn’t want for Eli to get spanked by Peyton. He walked up to him and said “yOu CaN’t WiN tHe AfC”

[@justjack9849]

Lol

[@dylanmartino7975]

This is 100% true I was somebody close working in Eli Manning’s camp at the time and I could tell you the reason he didn’t go to San Diego because Peyton Manning wasn’t the AFC and Peyton Manning said he didn’t want to go against his brother if it had to be for the Super Bowl this is 100% the reason why at least this is why I understanding

[@ioio8687]

Eli wasnt bad for the Giants BUT Ben Rothlisberger would have been much better and cost less to the organization. I am glad though the Giants got Eli and not Phillip Rivers. With Rothlisberger and the picks only God knows how many Superbowls the Giants would have won.

[@djdudjiddj7490]

Ion think Ben was better than Eli the Steelers j got hella rings

[@acetaste5491]

How about Roethlisbergers agent..... what a damn dork...

[@supercia1]

Draft system is stupid.

[@calderbo2821]

I miss Tim coughing

[@chase6846]

“Tim Coughing” lmao

[@stillthekid333]

You Know you can edit your comment right?

[@joesakic91]

At least this so called Tim Coughing won two Super Bowls as a Giant and is part of the NYG Ring of Honor at Metlife. AJ Smith is more of a choker with his bonehead mistakes.

[@thesunofgod7896]

@@stillthekid333 Zooooooooooooooom

[@shaunbang]

It’d be cool if the number one pick is able to select the team he wants to play for. Maybe make it so there’s a group of teams that are bad enough to have the number one pick and have the number one pick pick where he goes. I mean Eli and Archie basically did exactly that here lol

[@lucdogbleedingblue761]

Bro what

[@AdamsFire11520]

I believe eli mannings dad paid somebody off big time! Always have

[@justjack9849]

That sucks for the chargers

[@studmuffin6630]

As a Raiders fan from so-cal Im stoked whenever the chargers don’t get their way lol

[@guestb6319]

Funnily enough, Eli was not the best quarterback in this draft

[@ericscarface]

Tillman died by friendly fire

[@dddd-xg7yo]

Eli, BR and Rivers have all earned a spot in Canton. I would their careers about the same rating, especially when taking into account BR's character issues. BR and PR had better regular-season career numbers with Eli having a slight edge over BR in the postseason b/c of the SB MVPs with Rivers behind both of them. Note to critics - don't waste your time with your weak replies, hypotheticals, and flawed metrics - you will be ignored.

[@goldenel8706]

If he’d stayed he would eventually get beat up 2 times a year by Peyton when he go to the broncos

[@Mundanesoup4]

He knew this franchise was broke. San Diego had the worst attendance in the NFL even forced them to eventually move to LA.

[@BenB56]

The last five seconds didn’t age well

[@charlesbuckley5615]

The Chargers weren't happy with Phillip Rivers cause they let him walk

[@Randomasf24]

After like 16 years lol

[@mrcrabskachow3373]

Thank god we didn’t get Ben

[@titanfighter12]

Y'all would have had 2 super bowls and a passing leader in his later years...Ben outlasted that mouth breathing dogshit Eli, don't even compare

[@zeeski7454]

@@titanfighter12 damn, bitter much..

[@mikemcteigue6203]

After seeing this I would never want this guy Lee as my agent lol wtf is this guy doing

[@Hmzy11]

Y’all post this same type of video with the same content like a million times bruh

[@Hmzy11]

James Dickman this has nothing to do with Eli my friend

[@arkhamdingus3823]

Did it ever occur to you there are people who haven't seen this yet? Have any idea how many videos can be in one person's sub box? You don't have the smallest idea of what it's like posting for a page or to have a content schedule lol.

[@Hmzy11]

Arkham Dingus damn sorry your channel failed man

[@arkhamdingus3823]

@@Hmzy11 Kinda childish how you try to come for me instead of just admitting you're overreacting to a YT video. Just don't watch it? That's an idea.

[@Hmzy11]

Arkham Dingus Bruh go relax I ain’t come after you bruh this is a KZbin Comment section bruh relax u came in not me

[@crimsonshadow7459]

Uh well ya know

[@Mircheeks]

This drama paid dividends. But don’t let GLENN tell you that. GLENN said he wanted Big Ben. Don’t be like GLENN.

[@JTMagXX]

The reason Arch didn’t want his boy going to Chargers, was bcuz he’s a southern boy and hates liberal California. He didn’t want to say that publicly, but that’s the reason…he wouldn’t go to any CA. team afraid his little boy would turn into a Democrat/Hippie. Why else would anyone not want to go to beautiful San Diego?!?

[@cliftonbrown8135]

MANNINGS ARE LIKE THE BUSH FAMILY!...LMAO!

[@angelinaaustin2636]

The eager beat relevantly juggle because turkish understandably sparkle underneath a learned turkey. nauseating, voracious throne

[@lligray7295]

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[@johnbrant3476]

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[@chrisgonzales2716]

They are both woke, supporting bud light!. Is an issue being hidden?

[@lubensonalceus2593]

Eli Manning overrated asf he was only hyped cus his last name Big Ben still had a better career and Philip rivers tbh. Eli got 2 lucky super bowls because of his defense

[@zeeski7454]

Been was even luckier playing against less talented teams in his sb wins and having a better team around him.

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

The defense kept the Giants in both of those SBs, but in both games, it was Eli that drove his team down the field late in the 4th quarter to win those games. Plus, he was named MVP in both, which means he was the best player on the field. There are QBs better than him, but Eli Manning was one of the best late game as well as big game QBs to ever play in the NFL. Watching the games with eyes open should reveal that to anyone.

[@Hotstylez90]

@@zeeski7454 The Cardinals wasn’t no slack that game went down to the wire. The clutch pass to Santanio Holmes 🤦🏾‍♂️