Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner started the Giants’ first nine games in 2004 before Manning stepped in as the starter for the final seven games of his rookie season. Warner believes Manning is a Hall of Famer and will be elected, perhaps as early as next year.

“How many two-time Super Bowl (winning) quarterbacks aren’t in the Hall of Fame,” Warner said on the Honors’ pre-show red carpet. “But I think what you realize is that there’s a timing to everything.”

Thirteen starting quarterbacks have won two or more Super Bowls. Eleven are eligible for the Hall of Fame. Jim Plunkett and Manning are the only two of the 11 who are not in the Hall.

“There’s so many great players out there and there’s so many guys stacked up,” said Warner, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014, his third year as a finalist. “I know as well as anybody, whether I belong in or not, it took a little bit of time, but once you get in, it doesn’t matter how long you waited, it’s really just about joining the club and appreciating the honor.

“I think Eli’s time will come. You don’t do what he’s done, especially at the highest level without, I think, getting that recognition at some point.”

Manning will be eligible again next year, when former players on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time will include quarterbacks Drew Brees (who is second all-time in career completions, passing yards and touchdowns) and Philip Rivers (for whom Manning was traded in the 2004 NFL Draft), wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running back Frank Gore, tight end Jason Witten and Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowl center.

In 2027, quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton will be eligible, as will running back Adrian Peterson, wide receiver Antonio Brown, and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Tom Brady and J.J. Watt head the list of players who become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028.

Manning, 44, would have become the 23rd player, coach, owner or executive in the Hall of Fame who spent all or a significant portion of their career with the Giants. That is the fourth-highest total among the 32 NFL franchises, behind only Chicago (28), Pittsburgh (26) and Green Bay (25).

The most recent Giants inductee was the late general manager George Young in 2020. Defensive end Michael Strahan, who was enshrined in 2014, was the last Giants player inducted in the Hall.

The franchise’s Hall of Fame representatives include franchise founder Tim Mara, Wellington Mara, and coaches Steve Owen and Bill Parcells. The 16 players who meet the “significant portion” criteria include Mel Hein, Tuffy Leemans, Frank Gifford, San Huff, Rosie Brown, Emlen Tunnell, Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor.

Y.A. Tittle, who led the Giants to three NFL Championship Games while playing his final four seasons for them from 1961-64, Fran Tarkenton (five seasons), Bennie Friedman (three), and Arnie Herber (two) are the only other Giants quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame.

Eli hoped to join Peyton Manning as the first pair of brothers to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Their father, Archie, was the second pick of the 1971 NFL Draft and played 14 years with New Orleans, Houston and Minnesota. Peyton was the first choice of the 1998 draft by the Indianapolis Colts, was a five-time NFL Most Valuable Player, and was the winning quarterback in Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis and Super Bowl 50 with Denver.