Congratulations to Giants quarterback Eli Manning on making it to the semi-final round of the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer? I think eventually he does. Do I believe that he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

Because according to pro football historian Jack Silverstein (@ readjack.bsky.social on BlueSky), Manning is now basically a lock to one day enter the Hall of Fame based on his being a first-ballot semifinalist. Be it this year or somewhere down the line, Manning will soon get a bronze bust of his head.

I recently led a group of Hall analysts and historians in building our own list of 50, published at Hall voter Clark Judge’s site Talk of Fame, and Eli did not make our list. I was not surprised to see him in the actual Top 50 stage,