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Victor Talking Machine Company

"His Master's Voice" logo with Nipper
Former type	Corporation
Industry	Recording industry
Fate	Acquired
Successor(s)	Radio-Victor Division of the Radio Corporation of America (immediate) Sony Music Entertainment (current)
Founded	1901
Founder(s)	Eldridge R. Johnson, possibly also Emile Berliner
Defunct	1929
Headquarters	Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Products	Phonographs, Phonograph records, the Victrola
Owner(s)	Johnson, then Seligman & Spyer, finally Radio Corporation of America
Subsidiaries	JVC (ties severed at onset of World War II)

The Victor Talking Machine Company (1901–1929) was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey.

The company was founded by Eldridge R. Johnson, who had previously made phonographs to play Emile Berliner's Berliner Gramophone records.^[1] Some sources also claim Berliner as a co-founder; others say Berliner was never connected with the Victor company, though that may have been part of a ruse by Johnson to defeat the Zonophone lawsuits that had put Berliner Gramophone out of business (in the U.S., but not in Canada, the UK, or Germany) and threatened Johnson's phonograph business. (Zonophone had used patent ruses to defeat Berliner, the inventor of disc records, whose technology Zonophone had copied.) In any event, Victor ultimately acquired the remaining assets of Berliner Gramophone; it also acquired Zonophone after defeating it in court.

Name and logo[link]

1917 Victor Record label

There is some controversy as to how the name came about. Fred Barnum gives various possible origins of the "Victor" name; in "'His Master's Voice' In America", he writes, "One story claims that Johnson considered his first improved Gramophone to be both a scientific and business 'victory.' A second account is that Johnson emerged as the 'Victor' from the lengthy and costly patent litigations involving Berliner and Frank Seaman's Zonophone. A third story is that Johnson's partner, Leon Douglass, derived the word from his wife's name 'Victoria.' Finally, a fourth story is that Johnson took the name from the popular 'Victor' bicycle, which he had admired for its superior engineering. Of these four accounts the first two are the most generally accepted."

Victor had the rights in the United States and Latin America to use the famous trademark of the fox terrier Nipper listening to a Berliner Gramophone. (See also His Master's Voice.) The original painting was by Francis Barraud in 1893, as a memorial to his deceased brother, a London photographer, who willed him his estate including his DC-powered Edison-Bell cylinder Phonograph with a case of cylinders—some home-recorded—and his dog Nipper. Barraud noticed that whenever he played a cylinder recorded by his brother, the little dog would run to the horn, cock his ear and listen intently. Barraud's original depicts Nipper staring intently into the horn of an Edison-Bell while both sit on polished wooden surface. There is some controversy amongst historians as to whether this surface is the top of a table or the lid of the deceased master's coffin. This dispute originated long after Barraud's death and he made no comment during his life as to what the polished wooden surface is supposed to depict, if it depicts anything other than an artistic device for fixing Nipper and the Phonograph in space.

After several years the painting was still unsold. Since the horn on the Edison-Bell in the painting was black, a friend of Barraud's suggested that he might paint one of the bright brass-belled horns on display in the window at the new Berliner Gramophone shop on Maiden Lane. The London branch was managed by an American, William Barry Owen. Barraud paid a visit to the branch with a photograph of the painting and asked to borrow a horn. Owen gave Barraud a Berliner Gramophone and asked that he paint it into the picture and then he would purchase the painting. The original painting shows the contours of the Edison-Bell Phonograph beneath the paint of the Gramophone when viewed in the correct light.^[1]

The "His Master's Voice" logo as rendered in immense circular leaded-glass panels remains in the 1915 factory building tower, now converted to apartments.

Acoustical recording era[link]

Enrico Caruso with a "Victrola" phonograph

Before 1925, recording was done by the same purely mechanical, non-electronic "acoustical" method used since the invention of the phonograph nearly fifty years earlier. No microphone was involved and there was no means of amplification. The recording machine was essentially an exposed-horn acoustical record player functioning in reverse. One or more funnel-like metal horns was used to concentrate the energy of the airborne sound waves onto a recording diaphragm, which was a thin glass disc about two inches in diameter held in place by rubber gaskets at its perimeter. The sound-vibrated center of the diaphragm was linked to a cutting stylus that was guided across the surface of a very thick wax disc, engraving a sound-modulated groove into its surface. The wax was too soft to be played back even once without seriously damaging it, although test recordings were sometimes made and sacrificed by playing them back immediately. The wax master disc was sent to a processing plant where it was electroplated to create a negative metal "stamper" used to mold or "press" durable replicas of the recording from heated "biscuits" of a shellac-based compound. Although sound quality was gradually improved by a series of small refinements, the process was inherently insensitive. It could only record sources of sound that were very close to the recording horn or very loud—preferably both—and even then the high-frequency overtones and sibilants necessary for clear, detailed sound reproduction were too feeble to register above the background noise. Resonances in the recording horns and associated components resulted in a characteristic "horn sound" that immediately identifies an "acoustical" recording to an experienced modern listener and seemed inseparable from "phonograph music" to contemporary listeners.

From the start, Victor pioneered manufacturing processes and soon rose to preeminence by recording famous performers. In 1901 Victor made a three-track puzzle record (single-sided A-821) and in 1903, a three-step mother-stamper process to produce more stampers and records than previously possible. After increasing the quality of disc records and phonographs, Johnson began an ambitious project to have the most prestigious singers and musicians of the day record for Victor Records, with exclusive agreements where possible. Often these artists demanded fees which the company could not hope to make up from sale of their records. Johnson shrewdly knew that he would get his money's worth in the long run in promotion of the Victor brand name. These new "celebrity" recordings bore red labels, and were marketed as "Red Seal" records. For many years these recordings were single-sided; only in 1923 did Victor begin making double-sided "Red Seal" records. Many advertisements were printed mentioning by name the greatest names of music in the era, with the statement that they recorded only for Victor Records. As Johnson intended, much of the public assumed from this that Victor Records must be superior to cylinder records.

Popular vaudeville performer Cal Stewart's "Uncle Josh" comic monologues were enormously successful for Victor.^[2]

A Victor Talking Machine

The Victor recordings by Enrico Caruso between 1904–1920 were particularly successful, with those recorded until mid-1916 usually conducted by Walter B. Rogers and the remainder conducted by Josef Pasternack and Rosario Bourdon. They were often used by retailers to demonstrate Victor phonographs; Caruso's rich powerful low tenor voice highlighted the best range of audio fidelity of the early audio technology while being minimally affected by its defects. Even people who otherwise never listened to opera often owned a record or two of the great voice of Caruso. Caruso and Victor Records did much to boost each other's commercial popularity. He made his final recordings in September 1920, only three months before his final appearances at the Metropolitan Opera.

Victor recorded numerous classical musicians, including Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, Victor Herbert, and Sergei Rachmaninoff in a series of recordings at its Camden, New Jersey studios. Rachmaninoff, in particular, became one of the first composer-performers to record extensively; he first made several recordings for Thomas Edison in 1919, then became an exclusive Victor artist from 1920 to 1942.

A Victor V phonograph, about 1907

Orchestras were at a disadvantage in acoustical recordings, due to the limited frequency and dynamic range of the recording equipment. Musicians had to gather as closely as possible around the recording horn. Percussion instruments, in particular, were used sparingly since many of them could not be heard on the recordings. However, Victor made numerous recordings with bandmaster Arthur Pryor conducting his own "Pryor's Orchestra" in 1904-06, and Victor staff conductor Walter B. Rogers directing Victor's own "house" orchestras, the Victor Orchestra (for popular works) beginning in 1904 and the Victor Concert Orchestra (for more "classical" literature) beginning in 1907. (A very few 1903-04 14-inch issues are credited to the "Victor Symphony Orchestra"; these may have been conducted by either Pryor or Rogers.) The concert orchestra of Victor Herbert made several recordings for the company in 1903; these early discs may not have been conducted by Herbert himself, but Victor signed Herbert and his orchestra to a long-term contract in 1911, engaging them to record symphonic and theatre music under Herbert's direction (most of the labels credit "Victor Herbert's Orchestra/Personally directed by Victor Herbert"). Victor also imported early orchestral recordings made by its European affiliates, notably performances by the La Scala Orchestra under Carlo Sabajno and the New Symphony Orchestra of London under Landon Ronald. Victor expanded its American orchestral recording program by making recordings of the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Karl Muck and the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski in 1917; Victor's relationship with Stokowski and Philadelphia remained firm for decades. In 1920–21, Arturo Toscanini made his first recordings, conducting the La Scala Orchestra, which was then on an American tour. Victor went on to record the New York Philharmonic Orchestra with Willem Mengelberg and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with Rudolph Ganz from 1922, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Alfred Hertz from 1925; Hertz's earliest discs, made at Victor's new Oakland studios (opened in 1924), were the company's last acoustical orchestral sessions.

The origins of country music as we know it today can be traced to two seminal influences and a remarkable coincidence. Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family are considered the founders of country music and their songs were first captured at an historic recording session in Bristol, Tennessee on August 1, 1927, where Ralph Peer was the talent scout and sound recordist for Victor Records.

During the 1920s Victor also released "race records" (that is, records recorded by and marketed to African Americans).^[3] These records were scattered in Victor's regular popular music series until July, 1928 when they started the V-38000 series (which lasted until V-38146 in 1930). They then started a new "hot dance" series 23000-23041, which ran 1930-31 followed by a new race series 23250-23432 running through 1933.

Emile Berliner emigrated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1900, probably to escape the legal chaos created by his erstwhile "sales manager," Frank Seaman, in the United States, since he still owned his Canadian patents for his lateral disc records. He set up the Berliner Gram-O-Phone Company to merchandise his machines and disc records. The company was eventually controlled by Emile's son, Herbert Berliner. Note that Herbert established his own, essentially competing, record company, the Compo Company, also in Montreal. In fact, in 1919 the Compo Company pressed records credited only to "Famous Tenor," which used Victor sides cut by John McCormack; these were quickly withdrawn, to be replaced by the same titles cut by Ernest Hare doing a creditable McCormack impression.

Herbert Berliner left Berliner Gramophone of Canada in 1921 and developed Compo into a full-fledged record company.

A few years later, Victor acquired its Canadian counterpart, Berliner Gramophone of Canada, in 1924. Interestingly enough, when Victor introduced electric records in 1925, the Canadian firm immediately announced "the new V.E. Process" records; this was probably because the Compo Company had begun issuing electric recordings, promoted as such, in late January 1925. As a result, a special record, "You and I" by Jack Shilkret, promoting "the new V.E. Process" was issued; this was Victor 19571, with the Canadian promo version pairing acoustic (as issued in the U.S.) and electric (apparently recorded in Montreal) versions of 19571-A.

Electrical recording era[link]

Victor "scroll" label from 1930, featuring the company's house band directed by Nat Shilkret.

The advent of radio as a home entertainment medium in the early 1920s presented Victor and the entire record industry with new challenges. Not only was music becoming available over the air free of charge, but a live broadcast made using a high-quality microphone and heard over a high-quality receiver provided clearer, more "natural" sound than a contemporary phonograph record. In 1925, Victor switched from the old acoustical or mechanical method of recording to the new microphone-based electrical system developed by Western Electric. Victor called their version of the improved fidelity recording process "Orthophonic", and sold a line of new designs of phonographs to play these improved records, called "Orthophonic Victrolas". The large top-of-the-line "Credenza" models of Orthophonic Victrolas had a 1.8 m (6 foot) long horn coiled inside the cabinet, and are often considered the high point of the development of the commercial wind-up phonograph, offering audio fidelity seldom matched by most home electric phonographs until some 30 years later. Victor electric recordings began being issued in spring 1925. However, in order to manufacture a sufficient supply of the electric recordings to satisfy anticipated demand and to allow dealers to liquidate their stock of acoustic recordings, Victor and its rival, Columbia, agreed to keep secret from the public, until the end of 1925, the fact that the recordings using this new process offered a vast improvement over the older acoustical recordings. With a large advertising campaign, Victor introduced its Orthophonic records on "Victor Day", November 2, 1925.^[1]

Victor's first commercial electrical recording was made at the company's Camden, New Jersey studios on February 26, 1925. A group of eight popular Victor artists, Billy Murray, Frank Banta, Henry Burr, Albert Campbell, Frank Croxton, John Meyer, Monroe Silver, and Rudy Wiedoeft gathered to record "A Miniature Concert". Several takes were recorded by the old acoustic process, then additional takes were recorded electrically for test purposes. The electric recordings turned out well, and Victor issued the results that summer as the two sides of 12-inch 78 rpm record Victor 35753.^[4]

However, the first recorded commercial electrical recording was not the first issued commercial electric recording, and Gelatt^[1] notes for the first issued commercial electric recording that, "chronological pride of place goes to Victor 19626", with both sides being selections from the (University of Pennsylvania's) Mask and Wig Club's production Joan of Arkansas conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret. The A-side was recorded on March 16, 1925 and the B-side on March 20, 1925.^[5][6]

Victor quickly recorded the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Stokowski in a series of electrical recordings, initially at its Camden, New Jersey studios and then in Philadelphia's Academy of Music. Among Stokowski's first electrical recordings were performances of Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns and Marche Slave by Peter Tchaikovsky. Frederick Stock and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra made a series of recordings for Victor, beginning in 1925, first in Victor's Chicago studios and then in Orchestra Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alfred Hertz made a few acoustical recordings early in 1925, then switched to electrical recordings in Oakland and San Francisco, California, continuing until 1928. Within a few years, Serge Koussevitsky began a long series of recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Boston's Symphony Hall. Toscanini made his first Victor electrical recordings with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in 1929.

In 1926, Johnson sold his controlling (but not holding) interest in Victor to the banking firm of Seligman & Spyer, who in 1929 sold to the Radio Corporation of America, which then became known as the Radio-Victor Division of the Radio Corporation of America later RCA Victor. (See RCA and RCA Records for later history of the Victor brand name.)

Victor (Japan)[link]

The Victor Company of Japan (JVC), founded in 1927, severed its ties to RCA Victor at the start of World War II, and is still one of the oldest and most successful Japanese record labels as well as an electronics giant. It also retains the Victor name and "His Master's Voice" trademark in commercial operations in Japan.

The Victrola[link]

Victrola Model XVI, 1910s

In September 1906, Johnson and his engineers designed a new line of phonographs with the turntable and amplifying horn tucked away inside a wooden cabinet. This was not done for reasons of audio fidelity, but for visual aesthetics. The intention was to produce a phonograph that looked less like a piece of machinery and more like a piece of furniture. These internal horn machines, trademarked with the name Victrola, were first marketed to the public in August of that year and were an immediate hit. Soon an extensive line of Victrolas was marketed, ranging from small tabletop models selling for $15, through many sizes and designs of cabinets intended to go with the decor of middle-class homes in the $100 to $250 range, up to $600 Chippendale and Queen Anne-style cabinets of fine wood with gold trim designed to look at home in elegant mansions. Victrolas became by far the most popular brand of home phonograph, and sold in great numbers until the end of the 1920s. RCA Victor continued to market phonographs with the "Victrola" name until the early 1970s.

• 

  Victor Orthophonic Victrola "Credenza" model

• 

  Victrola Model VV-110, 1921

• Victrola VE9-40E Serial Number Plate.jpg

  S/N plate from Model VE9-40E, 1926

The Victor archives[link]

Victor kept meticulous written records of all of its recordings. The files cover the period 1903 to 1958 (so this discussion is pertinent to RCA Victor as well as The Victor Talking Machine). These written records are among the most extensive and important sources of available primary discographic information in the world. There were three main categories of files: A daily log of recordings for each day; a file maintained for each important Victor artist; and a 4"x6" index card file kept in catalog number order. As of 2010, the Victor archives were owned by Sony and kept in New York City.

There are about 15,000 daily log pages, each titled "Recording Book," that are numbered chronologically. Each recording was assigned a "matrix number" to identify the recording. When issued, the recording had a "catalog number," almost always different from the matrix number, on the record label. For most recordings the information given in the daily log included the following:

• recording date
• matrix number
• title
• artist
• instrumentation (e.g., "2 violins-piano," with only the important artists or important Victor house musicians named, e.g., "violin-L. Raderman-piano-N. Shilkret")
• author(s) (lyricist(s) and composer(s))
• publisher
• take number (e.g., B 27413-3 for the third attempt at recording matrix B 27413)
• disposition ("D" for destroy, "H" for hold, "M" for master), which was written in by hand after the entry was made
• a date which may have been the date disposition was made

For many recordings the following additional information was written:

• catalog number, which was written by hand after the entry was made
• city in which the recording was made

Some pages have letter suffixes; e.g., page 5417A follows page 5417. Frequently, but not always, the pages with letter suffixes were used for recordings made other than in the New York area; e.g., page 5417A lists recordings made in Chicago. Pages with letter suffixes are sometimes slightly out of chronological order.

As of 2010, the pages available at the Sony's Victor Archives go only up to April 22, 1935. Victor's original pages after this date were apparently discarded at some point. However, Victor had ties with EMI in England, and at Hayes, England EMI has more recent pages. These pages were sent at the time they were first written, and they do not have the annotations made afterwards.

Most, but not all, daily log information for recordings made for synchronization with motion pictures were kept separately, and the separate synchronization recording information is missing from the Sony Victor archives.

The files by artist were also maintained chronologically and had information similar to that in the daily log sheets, and also some technical information such as information about the horns used for acoustical recordings. E.g., there is an approximately 350-page file labeled "International Novelty Orchestra--Export." The word "Export" indicated that only the recordings made for export to Central and South America were included in the file.^[7]

The 4"x6" index cards are on blue stock, and, thus, are usually referred to as "the blue cards" or some variant of this. The blue card file consists of approximately a quarter of a million cards arranged in catalog number order. The blue cards contain much of the same information as the daily log and also additional information, such as the date a master was tested. In some cases, record sales are indicated on the back side of the card.

Victor also issued catalogs, usually annually, with supplements issued during the year, that were carefully prepared and also provide useful information.

The Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings (EDVR) is a continuation of a project of Ted Fagan and William Moran to make a complete discography of all Victor recordings.^[8] The Victor archive files are a major source of information for this project.

See also[link]

• Grammy Award
• Johnson Victrola Museum

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Victor Records

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Victor phonographs

• Music Rack Victor 78 Discography
• University of California Santa Barbara: Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings
• Acoustic side of Victor 19571, "You and I"
• Electric side of Victor 19571, "You and I"
• Victor "Pre-Dog" single-sided A-821 "Two Fortunes and a Song" puzzle record
• Timeline of Victor recording events, 1903-1931
• iTunes of the 1920s Historical Victrola advertisements from the 1920s

Elisha Nelson "Eli" Manning^[1] (born January 3, 1981) is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the younger brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning played college football at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) after attending prep school at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. He was drafted as the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and immediately traded to the New York Giants, who in return gave up a package highlighted by fourth overall selection Philip Rivers.

Manning won the Most Valuable Player award in Super Bowl XLII in 2008 after leading the Giants to victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots. On February 5, 2012 he again led his team to victory in Super Bowl XLVI, a rematch with the Patriots, in which Manning again won MVP honors and also set a new Super Bowl record with nine consecutive completions to start the game. Manning is one of five quarterbacks who have won multiple Super Bowl MVP awards.

Manning is also a former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.^[2]

College career[link]

Eli Manning during his tenure at the University of Mississippi.

Prior to deciding which college to attend, Manning received a call from David Cutcliffe, formerly the offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.^[3]

During his years with the Rebels at Ole Miss, Manning set or tied 45 single-game, season, and career records. His career numbers include 10,119 passing yards (fifth on the SEC career list), 81 touchdown passes (third on the SEC career list), and a passer rating of 137.7 (tied for sixth on the SEC career list). Manning also led the Rebels to a 10-3 record and a 31-28 SBC Cotton Bowl Classic victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2003. He was invited to play in the 2004 Senior Bowl, but chose not to play.^[4]

As his senior year came to a close, Manning won many awards including the Maxwell Award as the nation’s best all-around player, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award, the Sporting News Radio Socrates Award, and the SEC Most Valuable Player Award. He was also a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, finishing third in the voting after winning quarterback Jason White of the University of Oklahoma and University of Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.^[5]

Manning graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing and a GPA of 3.44.^[6]

Awards[link]

• 2001, 2003 Conerly Trophy
• 2002 Independence Bowl MVP
• 2003 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
• 2003 Maxwell Award
• 2003 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete
• 2003 Sporting News Radio Socrates Award
• 2003 Southeastern Conference Football MVP
• 2004 Cotton Bowl Classic Offensive MVP

[edit] Statistics^[7]

Professional career[link]

2004 NFL Draft[link]

The San Diego Chargers originally held the rights to the overall first pick in the 2004 NFL Draft due to their 4-12 record in 2003. With Manning being the most coveted player in the draft, it appeared that the Chargers' intentions were to draft him first overall. However, Manning (echoed by his father) stated publicly that he would refuse to play for the Chargers if drafted by them. The Chargers selected him with the first pick overall nonetheless as the team had a deal in place with the New York Giants, whereby the Giants would draft and then trade Philip Rivers and draft picks (used to select Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding) to the Chargers for Manning.

Quarterback class of 2004[link]

Manning was one of four quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft along with Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, and J.P. Losman. Manning, Roethlisberger, and Rivers have all been voted to the Pro Bowl since becoming starters, none has produced a season with a losing record (although each has had an 8-8 season), and Roethlisberger and Manning have each won two Super Bowls. They have been compared favorably to the Quarterback class of 1983, which included Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino, John Elway, and Jim Kelly.^[8]

2004 Season[link]

Manning made his first career regular season start against the Atlanta Falcons at Giants Stadium on November 21, 2004. In his fourth start, against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 12, 2004, he ended the day with a 0.0 passer rating and was benched in the second half in favor of Kurt Warner, but remained the Giants starter through the end of the season.

2005 season: NFC East champions[link]

Following 2004, Warner left the Giants,^[9] and Eli was named the starter for 2005. Manning led the Giants to a 2-0 record with victories against the Cardinals and Saints,^[10][11] before traveling to the West Coast for a test in San Diego. Chargers fans did not forget the snub, and on September 25, 2005 when Manning and the Giants made their first trip to San Diego for a game since that draft day, the crowd booed Manning loudly every time he touched the ball. San Diego defeated the Giants,^[12] 45-23, but Eli displayed what may have been his most impressive performance of his young career, going 24-41 for 352 yards and two touchdowns.^[13]

Following his performance at San Diego, Manning returned home to throw for almost 300 yards and a career high four touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams at Giants stadium in a 44-24 romp.^[14] Two games later, he led a last-minute drive against the Denver Broncos to secure a 24-23 victory for the Giants.^[15] The drive culminated in a two yard touchdown to Amani Toomer with five seconds remaining.^[15] Two weeks later, Manning overcame a weak first half at San Francisco to help his team secure their first official road victory of the season, 24–6. Despite a poor performance at home against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing four interceptions, he again led his team back to tie the game in the final minutes before the Vikings won on a late field goal.

Manning finished among the top five quarterbacks in both passing yards and touchdown passes, while leading an offense that finished third in the NFL in scoring with a total of 422 points.^[16][17] It was the most points the Giants scored in a single season since 1963. The Giants won the NFC East with an 11–5 record^[18] and advanced to the postseason.

2006 season[link]

Manning's second full season was reminiscent of his 2005 season. He started off playing well and completed over 65 percent of his passes through the first four games. However, he struggled in the second half of the season and his production diminished towards the end of the regular season. After losing a tough game to his brother Peyton and the Colts on opening day,^[19] Eli and the Giants rebounded from a 24-7 4th-quarter deficit en route to a 30-24 overtime victory over the division rival Eagles in week two.^[20] Manning threw for a career high 371 yards in the win with three touchdowns including a game-winning pass to Plaxico Burress in overtime.^[21] Following a poor performance against Seattle the next week,^[22] Manning and the Giants responded by winning five straight games including wins over the Redskins, Cowboys and Falcons to push their record to 6-2.^[23]

Following this winning streak, key injuries including one to receiver Amani Toomer pushed Manning and the Giants into a downward slide.^[24] Playing against the Chicago Bears, Manning started well, but the Giants' offense was derailed by the loss of left tackle Luke Petitgout to a broken leg.^[25] Manning was held to only 141 yards passing with two interceptions. Petigout's loss left a gaping hole at the crucial left tackle position, and Manning was unable to repeat his first half success. Manning struggled the next week at Jacksonville^[26] and the week after that, a costly interception helped to culminate a huge collapse at Tennessee, with the Giants seeing a 21-point fourth quarter lead simply evaporate.^[27] Manning improved the following week, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns, but the Giants lost again. Finally regaining momentum, Manning threw three touchdowns in a win at Carolina,^[28] but then he stumbled badly in the final three games. He threw two interceptions against the Eagles and tallied only 73 passing yards in a game against the Saints. Although the Giants battled back to 8-8 the following week at Washington, Manning completed only 12 of 26 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. The Giants qualified for the postseason and met the Eagles. Although he did significantly better in this game than the 2005 playoff game vs. the Carolina Panthers, completing 16 of 27 passes and two touchdowns, the Giants lost on a last-second field goal by the Eagles.^[29]

For the year, Manning threw for 3,244 yards, 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.^[30] He completed 57.7 percent of his passes, a five point improvement from 2005, but he again struggled badly in the second half of the season. Manning finished the season with a quarterback efficiency rating of 77.0 (18th in the league) with 6.2 yards per attempt.

2007 season: Super Bowl Champions[link]

Preparation for 2007[link]

Eli Manning during the Giants 2007 training camp.

Manning trained in the Meadowlands with offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and new quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer.^[31] For the first time ever, Plaxico Burress^[32] and Jeremy Shockey^[33] practiced in the off-season with Manning to perfect their timing and chemistry rather than training alone in Miami as they did in previous years.^[34]

Regular season[link]

Manning opened the 2007 season with an outstanding personal performance against the Dallas Cowboys, completing 28 of 41 passing attempts for 312 yards, 4 touchdowns, and an interception,^[35] but suffered a shoulder sprain^[36] and was removed from the game late in the second half. Although he did play against Green Bay in week 2 while throwing for 211 yards with one touchdown,^[37] the Giants defense performed poorly again and the team dropped to 0-2 with Green Bay winning, 35-13.^[37] In week 3 Manning got a come-from-behind victory as the Giants defense improved, pitching a shutout in the second half and stopping the Washington Redskins on a fourth and goal situation, winning the game 24-17.^[38] The Giants defense then shut down the Philadelphia Eagles with an NFL record-tying 12 sacks,^[39] holding the Eagles offense to one field goal. The Giants won with a score of 16-3.^[40] The following week, Manning overcame a dismal first half to throw for two second-half scores^[41] in a 35-24 win over their in-city rivals, the New York Jets.^[42]

Following two straight home victories, Manning and the Giants obtained their fourth consecutive victory with a 31-10 defeat of the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome on Monday Night Football.^[43] Manning performed well, completing 27 of 39 passes for 303 yards along with a pair of touchdowns while giving away two interceptions.^[44] Behind a dominant defensive effort, the Giants improved to 5-2 the next week with a 33-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers.^[45] Manning played well again, throwing for two touchdowns in the effort. In week eight of the season, the Giants played a road game against the Miami Dolphins on October 28, 2007, in London's Wembley Stadium.^[46] Manning only threw for 59 yards in the rain and mud, but he scored the Giants' only touchdown on a 10-yard run.^[47] This touchdown was the first in an NFL regular season game that was played outside of North America. The Giants defeated the Dolphins, 13–10, bringing the Giants to a 6–2 record at the mid-way point of the 2007 season.^[47]

After losing to their division rivals the Dallas Cowboys in week 9,^[48] New York Giants co-owner John Mara publicly questioned Manning's ability to lead the New York Giants in 2007 but more importantly in the future:^[49]

After a week of criticism in the New York media and being outplayed by Tony Romo, Manning had a bounce-back victory versus their conference wildcard competitors the Detroit Lions.^[50] Manning managed to throw for 283 yards and 1 touchdown but most importantly, no interceptions in a critical road game.^[51][52]

The following week in a 41-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Manning threw four interceptions and had three of them returned for touchdowns.^[53] He continued to struggle until the last game of the season, against the 15-0 New England Patriots. With a playoff spot secured, the Giants could have rested their starters for the playoffs, but they instead chose to keep in the regulars and attempt to stop New England's quest for an undefeated regular season.^[54] The Giants lost 38-35, with Manning completing 22 of 32 passes for 252 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception.

2007 playoffs[link]

On January 6, 2008, Manning went 20-of-27 for 185 yards playing on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The underdog Giants won 24-14, and Manning had two touchdown passes.^[55]

On January 13, 2008, Manning led the Giants to an upset victory over the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys, the number one seed in the NFC.^[57] For the third straight game, Manning played well, completing 12 of 18 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.^[57] The Giants were the first team to beat an NFC number one seed in the divisional round since the start of the 12-team format in 1990.^[58] This victory secured an NFC Championship berth against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, January 20, 2008. In the championship game, the Giants beat the Packers in overtime, with a score of 23-20.^[59] The dramatic victory secured Manning and the Giants a trip to Super Bowl XLII.^[60] This was the first Super Bowl appearance for the New York Giants since Super Bowl XXXV in 2001,^[61] and their first Super Bowl victory since Super Bowl XXV.

Super Bowl XLII[link]

Eli with the Lombardi Trophy during the Giants Super Bowl victory rally at Giants Stadium.

In front of a record-setting American television audience^[62] and on the strength of a late fourth-quarter drive led by Manning, the Giants beat the 12.5 point-favored, undefeated New England Patriots 17–14.

Trailing 14-10 with 2:42 remaining, Manning led the Giants 83 yards on a game-winning touchdown drive. On a crucial third-and-5 at the Giants' 44 yard line, Manning connected with David Tyree on a play in which he avoided several near-sacks and Tyree caught the ball off his helmet for a large gain. Four plays later, Plaxico Burress caught a 13 yard touchdown pass with just 35 seconds remaining for the winning margin.^[64] Manning became only the second quarterback in NFL history to throw two go-ahead fourth quarter touchdowns in a Super Bowl (Joe Montana being the first).^[65] Manning also became the first quarterback to throw a last-minute, championship-winning touchdown in the NFL title game (including the pre-Super Bowl era) when a field goal would not at least tie the game.^[66] Following the Giants' monumental victory, Manning and the coaching staff spoke briefly with President George W. Bush.^[67]

Manning was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLII.^[68] He and his brother Peyton are the only brother combination to play at quarterback in the Super Bowl and the only set of brothers to win Super Bowl MVP, doing so in successive years.^[69]

For winning Super Bowl MVP he was given his choice of any 2008 model Cadillac, and Manning chose an Escalade Hybrid.^[70] The Wednesday following the Super Bowl he appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.^[70]

2008 season: NFC East champions[link]

Manning (right) and Coach Tom Coughlin (left) with President Bush on April 30, 2008.^[71]

Manning and the Giants opened the 2008 season with a win over their division rivals, the Washington Redskins, 16–7.^[72] "It was a great opening to the season," said Manning, who completed 19 passes of 35 for 216 yards, and had one rushing touchdown and one interception. "There was a lot of emotion, a lot of excitement. You could feel it in the crowd."^[72] In the Giants' second game of the year against the St. Louis Rams, they won again, 41–13, behind a stellar Manning performance.^[73] Manning finished the game with 20 completions, 260 yards passing and threw three touchdowns to three different receivers.^[73] The victory also marked the team's fourth straight victory over the Rams. The following week, Manning rallied the Giants to more fourth quarter magic, overcoming a late deficit to throw the go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss, and then in overtime, throwing a clutch 31-yard pass to Amani Toomer in the Giants' 26–23 win over Cincinnati.^[73] The fourth week of the season saw the Giants score on each of their first six possessions and dominate the Seattle Seahawks, 44–6. Manning threw for two touchdowns, completing 19 of 25 passes for 267 yards as the Giants totaled 523 yards on offense, their most since 2002.^[74]

Following a poor team performance in a 35–14 at Cleveland,^[75] Manning and the Giants responded with a 29–17 win over the 49ers and battled to a hard earned 21–14 win over the Steelers at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field.^[76][77] Manning completed 19 of 32 passes for 199 yards and one touchdown in the crucial win, which pushed the Giants to a 6–1 record.^[77] The following week, the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys at home 35-14 to get to 7–1 at the midway point of the regular season. Manning threw three touchdowns in the game. New York improved to 8–1 with a 36–31 win at Philadelphia. Manning threw two touchdowns in the victory, but the crucial play occurred in the third quarter. With the Giants trailing by four, Manning appeared to make an illegal forward pass to tight end Boss. After review, it was determined that the pass was legal. The Giants scored a touchdown two plays later. Week 9 pitted the Giants in a battle with the visiting Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens had come into the game with the league's third-ranked defense; nevertheless, Manning led the Giants to a decisive 30–10 victory, improving to 9–1, which included a 200-yard rushing effort by running backs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw.

Two weeks later, the Giants faced the Redskins at Washington in their second encounter in the season. Manning threw his first 300 yard game of the season going 21/34 with an INT and a 40 yard touchdown pass to Toomer. The Giants beat the Redskins 23–7.

In November, Manning was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month. For the month, Manning threw for 1,036 yards and 10 touchdowns, and compiled a 94.9 passer rating while leading the Giants to a perfect 5–0 record.^[78]

Manning was named to his first Pro Bowl on December 16, making him the first Giants quarterback to earn the honor since Phil Simms in 1993.^[79]

In week 15 Eli Manning and the Giants visited Texas Stadium, where Tony Romo battled through a lower back contusion and connected with nine different receivers, finishing 20-of-30 for 244 yards and two touchdowns leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 20-8 victory.

In week 16 against the Carolina Panthers with NFC homefield advantage on the line, Manning had a passing day of 17 of 27 for 181 yards and no interceptions. Manning led the Giants back from deficits of 21–10 and 28–20 to tie the game with just over three minutes left, including a bullet pass to Domenik Hixon for a key two-point conversion to tie the game at 28. The game was played in freezing conditions.

After becoming the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Giants had a first playoff round bye week and home field advantage through the rest of the playoffs. In the divisional round, they faced their arch rival Philadelphia Eagles at Giants Stadium with its signature windy conditions. Philadelphia went on to win the game 23–11. Manning completed 15 out of 29 passes for 169 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.^[80]

2009 season[link]

Manning in pre-game warmups in 2009

Manning and the Giants opened the 2009 season with a win over their division rivals the Washington Redskins, 23-16.^[81] Manning played well completing 20 of 29 passing attempts for 256, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Manning and the Giants traveled to Dallas to play the Cowboys in the opening of their new Cowboys Stadium on Sunday Night Football. Manning played outstanding completing 25 of 38 passing attempts for 330 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions which resulted in a 33-31 win for the Giants on a last second field goal. In week 3 Manning and the Giants played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he completed 14 of 24 passes for 161 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions and as the Giants had a big lead he was taken from the game at the start of the second quarter, the Giants ended up winning 24-0.

In week 4, the Giants played the Kansas City Chiefs. Manning was playing well up until the start of the fourth quarter when on a play action fake Manning injured his heel while passing downfield to Steve Smith. He stayed in for the next play completing a 54 yard touchdown to Hakeem Nicks. It was discovered that Manning had plantar fasciitis (inflammation of connective tissue within the soles of the feet) and there was speculation he would not play against the Oakland Raiders in week 5. However, in week 5 Manning played well, completing 8 of 10 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Giants winning 44-7. This was the first time in his career that Manning had a posted a perfect passer rating.

After this five-game winning streak, the Giants fell to a four-game losing streak, losing to the New Orleans Saints, the Arizona Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Diego Chargers before winning again after a bye week on week 11 when they played the Atlanta Falcons, winning 34-31 in overtime. Against the Falcons, Manning posted a career high 384 passing yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.

On Thanksgiving the Giants traveled to Denver to play the Denver Broncos where they lost 26-6. Manning completed 24 of 40 passes for 230 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. In week 14 they played their divisional rivals, the Eagles, and lost 45-38, where it was a close game from the start. Manning passed for a career high 391 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions but was not able to win the game. Next week, on Monday Night Football, Manning and the Giants dominated the Redskins, winning the game 45-12. Manning also beat his brother in the Pro bowl. That was his first experience

The next week, in the final game in Giants Stadium, Manning and the Giants embarrassed themselves, losing 41-9 against the Carolina Panthers and repeated that feat the next week on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in the final regular season game, losing 44-7 while down 38 points in the 4th quarter. After the games Manning apologized to the fans for their performance.

Manning ended the 2009 season with a career highs including 4,021 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, a 62.3 completion percentage rating and a passer rating of 93.1.

2010 season[link]

Manning against the Houston Texans in October 2010

On August 16 during a preseason game against the New York Jets, Manning was hit by Brandon Jacobs, then by Calvin Pace which knocked off his helmet, then went face first into Jim Leonhard's face mask. As a result, Manning had a large gash that needed 12 stitches. Manning left the game.^[82]

The Giants ended the season 2010 NFL Season 10-6 with losses coming against the Indianapolis Colts, the Tennessee Titans, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. Eli Manning led the Giants to a 17-14 win in the last game of the season against the Washington Redskins, however, because of Green Bay Packers 10-3 win over the Chicago Bears, the Giants did not make the Playoffs. The Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV. Manning ended the season with 4,002 yards, another 4,000-yard season, a career high 31 touchdowns, but also a career high 25 interceptions, which marked the most by a quarterback in the 2010 season, finshing with a 62.5 completion percentage.^[83][84] ,

2011 season: Second Super Bowl Championship[link]

Preseason[link]

In August 2011, Manning generated mild controversy in the sports media during a radio interview on The Michael Kay Show. When asked by host Michael Kay whether he was an elite "Top 10, Top 5" quarterback in the same class as Tom Brady, he responded:

Manning received criticism for the quote for trying to inflate his own status and skills, with critics pointing out his past inconsistent stats, including his 25 interceptions in the previous season, as evidence contradicting his claims.^[86][87] However, Manning also received support for his comments from Giants coach Tom Coughlin and teammates such as receiver Hakeem Nicks.^[88] Later in the season, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan also commented on the quote, agreeing with Manning that he was an elite quarterback "for sure."^[89]

Regular season[link]

The Giants opened the 2011 season with a slow start, losing to the rival Washington Redskins 14-28 in an emotional game for both fanbases on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.^[90] Manning completed 18 of 32 passes for 268 yards but threw a costly interception in the 3rd quarter to Ryan Kerrigan, who returned it for a touchdown and swung the momentum of the game. However, the Giants would recover and win their next three games, including over the arch-rival Philadelphia Eagles. During this streak, Manning improved, throwing for 8 touchdowns and 1 interception.

After a 6-2 start, including a 24-20 last-minute comeback by Manning over the New England Patriots that evoked comparisons to Super Bowl XLII,^[91] the Giants then entered a tough stretch of their schedule, facing off against the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers, the respective eventual NFC West, South, and North champions. The Giants would lose all three games as well as falling to the Philadelphia Eagles at home, leading them into a 4-game skid and once again putting their postseason hopes in jeopardy. However, unlike the previous three seasons, the Giants would finish strong, winning 3 of their last 4 games. This included a key win over their crosstown rival New York Jets as well as a sweep of their fellow division rival Dallas Cowboys. In the final regular season game against the Cowboys, Manning threw for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns, allowing the Giants to win the NFC East title and secure a playoff berth for the first time in 3 years.

2011 playoffs[link]

The Giants entered the 2011 postseason as underdogs, with the lowest winning record of any NFC team. However, Manning and his team would once again demonstrate their endurance and durability late in the year. The Giants first easily routed the Atlanta Falcons 24-2 in the Wild Card round and then stunned the defending Super Bowl champions and top-seeded Green Bay Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Game. In the win, Manning completed 21 out of 33 attempts and threw 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.^[92] The following week, the Giants would also avenge their regular season loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a dramatic 20-17 overtime win in the NFC Championship Game.^[93] This victory secured Manning and the Giants a second trip in 4 years to the Super Bowl, setting up a highly anticipated rematch against the New England Patriots. The Giants also made history on being the first ever team to have been outscored by their opponents in the regular season (394 points scored, 400 points allowed) and then reached the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLVI[link]

In the most-watched program in the history of United States television,^[94] Manning once again led the Giants to an upset victory over the highly favored Patriots 21-17, his second Super Bowl win and the fourth overall for the franchise.^[95]

While trailing the Patriots 15-17 in the final minutes, Manning led the Giants 88 yards down the field to a touchdown that many observers described as "accidental."^[97][98]. With just over a minute of time left in the game, the Giants called a running play and Manning handed off the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw with the hopes of stopping short of the goal line and forcing the Patriots to use their final time out, thus allowing the Giants to run out the clock. The Patriots, in turn, did not attempt to tackle Bradshaw in his run, and he then fell over the goal line despite making an attempt to stop. However, the remaining time was not enough for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to lead a comeback and the Giants held onto the lead to win.

Like 4 years before, Manning was again named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLVI, becoming the third quarterback in a row to win the award.^[99] The Giants also became the first team ever with fewer than 10 wins in a 16-game regular season to win the Super Bowl.^[100]

For winning the Super Bowl, Manning and the Giants received a victory parade in Manhattan and were honored with symbolic keys to the city by mayor Michael Bloomberg.^[101]

Statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Postseason[link]

Awards and accolades[link]

College[link]

• 2001: Conerly Trophy - Best College Football Player in Mississippi^[102]
• 2001: Davey O'Brien Award (finalist) - Awarded to the Nation's Top Quarterback^[102]
• 2001: Honorable Mention All-America - The Football News^[103]
• 2002: Second Team All-America - The Associated Press^[104]
• 2003: Maxwell Award – Nation's Top Player^[105]
• 2003: Conerly Trophy – Best College Football Player in Mississippi ^[106]
• 2003: SEC Most Valuable Back – Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club^[106]
• 2003: Sports Person of the Year in Mississippi – The Clarion-Ledger ^[106]
• 2003: Mississippi Amateur Athlete of the Year – Jackson Touchdown Club^[106]
• 2003: National Scholar-Athlete Class – Division I-A QB^[107]
• 2003: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award – Awarded to the Nation's Top Quarterback^[108]
• 2003: SEC Offensive Player of the Year – The Associated Press and the SEC Coaches^[105]
• 2004: SBC Cotton Bowl Classic Offensive Player of the Game^[106]
• Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik Leadership Award – All-America Football Foundation^[106]
• USA Today Player of the Year in Louisiana^[4]
• First Team All-America – The All-America Foundation^[103]
• Southeastern Conference Player of the Year^[106]
• SEC Player of the Year – The Commercial Appeal and the SEC Coaches^[105]
• First Team All-SEC – The Associated Press^[105]
• SouthEast's Top Offensive Back – Touchdown Club of Atlanta Wally Butts Award^[106]

Professional[link]

• 2011: Super Bowl XLVI Most Valuable Player^[109]
• 2007: Super Bowl XLII Most Valuable Player^[110]
• 2008: November NFC Offensive Player of the Month^[111]
• 2009/2011: 2× Pro Bowl Selection^[79]
• 2011: NFL Record most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a season (15)
• 2011: Tied NFL Record for longest pass completion and touchdown (99 yards)
• Holds NFL Record for most road playoff wins (5)^[112]
• Most passing yards in a single postseason (1219 yards, 2011)
• Super Bowl XLVI: Most consecutive completions to begin a Super Bowl (9)
• Active leader for most consecutive starts by a National Football League quarterback (119, 3rd all-time)

NFL records[link]

• Most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a season (15 in 2011)
• Tied NFL Record longest pass completion and touchdown (99 yards in 2011)
• Most road playoff wins by a quarterback (5)
• Tied NFL Record most game-winning drives in a season (8 in 2011)
• Most road wins in a single regular season and postseason by a starting quarterback (10)
• Most passing yards in a single postseason (1,219 yards in 2011)

Giants franchise records[link]

• Most passing attempts (season): 589 (2011)
• Most completions (season): 359 (2011)
• Most passing yards (season): 4,933 (2011)
• Longest completed pass: 99 yards (2011)
• Most interceptions thrown (season): 25 (2010), tied
• Most 4th quarter touchdown passes, season: 15 (NFL record)
• Most consecutive starts by a quarterback: 119
• Most consecutive pass completions, game: 21 (2011)
• Most comeback wins in the 4th quarter (season): 5 (2007, 2011), tied
• Most game-winning drives in the 4th quarter/overtime (season): 6 (2007, 2011)
• Most career playoff touchdowns: 13 (2011)

Manning in popular culture[link]

• Eli, his brothers Peyton and Cooper, and their parents Archie and Olivia all appeared in an ESPN This is SportsCenter ad from 2006.^[113][114]
• In a 2006 commercial for NFL Sunday Ticket, he and Peyton came home to find Archie giving tips to Matt Leinart, confessing that he "always wanted a lefty".
• Eli, Peyton and Cooper made a cameo appearance in an episode of The Simpsons where Bart dreams about the fun of having brothers.
• He has also co-starred with Peyton for NFLShop.com and Oreo.^[113]
• Eli has begun appearing solo in his own commercials, and is a spokesman for Citizen Watch Co.,^[113][115] Toyota of New Jersey^[114] and Reebok.^[113][116] He reportedly received several more endorsement offers after reaching Super Bowl XLII.^[114]
• Manning appeared on stage with Conan O'Brien at Radio City Music Hall for the former Tonight Show host's Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour on June 2, 2010.
• Manning hosted the May 5, 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live. Eli's brother Peyton appeared on Saturday Night Live in March 2007, after winning Super Bowl XLI.^[117]

Personal life[link]

Manning (center) reviewing plays with a teammate and a member of the Giants coaching staff in October 2010

Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Olivia (née Williams) and NFL quarterback Elisha Archibald "Archie" Manning III. He is a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and was named Sigma Nu Athlete of the Year in 2001 and 2003.^[118]

In 2007, Manning proposed to Abby McGrew of Nashville, Tennessee.^[119] McGrew studies fashion in New York City,^[120] and has been with Manning since their days at Ole Miss.^[121] Manning and McGrew married in a private ceremony held in San José del Cabo, Mexico on April 19, 2008.^[122][123] Eli and Abby have one daughter, Ava Frances.^[124] During the season, they reside in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Eli and Peyton Manning volunteered in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Mannings assisted in the delivery of 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) of water, Gatorade, baby formula, pumice, and pillows to the people of New Orleans.^[125] After touring the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, Manning undertook a 5-year campaign in 2007 to raise $2.5 million for the construction of "The Eli Manning Children's Clinics" at the children's hospital. Manning said in 2007, "I am humbled by the work they do and am honored to make this five-year commitment to help raise funds to build this state-of-the-art clinic that will serve Mississippi families for years to come." Eli Manning's father, Archie, also has worked to raise funds for Katrina relief efforts.^[126]

In 2009, Eli, Peyton, and Archie co-authored a children's book entitled Family Huddle, which describes in simple text and pictures how the three Manning brothers played football as young boys (Scholastic Press; illustrations by Jim Madsen).

In 2010, as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Manning appeared in a commercial to raise awareness for the spill. Also starring in the commercial were Sandra Bullock, Peyton Manning, Jack Del Rio, Drew Brees, Terry Bradshaw, Emeril Lagasse, James Carville, Blake Lively, and John Goodman.

Beginning in February 2011, Eli appeared in an Oreo commercial with other popular athletes.

Eli Manning has for five years been the host of Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Golf Classic, the oldest and largest charity golf event in Westchester County, NY. Guiding Eyes is a nonprofit guide dog school serving the blind and visually impaired from around the world, as well as children on the autism spectrum. Eli hosts the event because of the participation of a close family friend, Patrick Browne, Jr., who became blind as an adult and who participates in the blind golfer tournament held the day before the sponsor-support charity outing. The Golf Classic raises more than $500,000 annually.

See also[link]

• History of the New York Giants (1994-present)
• Manning Passing Academy
• Most consecutive starts by a quarterback (NFL)

References[link]