Eli Manning Breaks Silence on 2004 NFL Draft Refusal
Seventeen years after the iconic 2004 NFL Draft, NFL legend Eli Manning has finally revealed the true reason he declined to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had selected him as the first overall pick.
In a 2021 interview on NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt’s podcast, Manning confessed that the decision was entirely his own, dispelling the long-held belief that his father, Archie Manning, had influenced it.
“It was my decision after talking with my agent, coaches, [general managers], and owners,” Manning said. “Going through the draft process, I was just worried about the Chargers organization at the time. I felt it was the right decision, and I had a little pull.”
Manning explained that he had quietly requested the Chargers not to draft him, hoping to keep it a secret. However, the Chargers did not honor his request, and the secret became public knowledge.
“I quietly tried to say, ‘Hey, please don’t draft me, it can be our secret,’ and they didn’t keep the secret part very well,” Manning said. “It wasn’t my Dad. He was trying to take the heat off of me; he knew I was going to get criticized.”
The Chargers struggled during the 2003 season, finishing with a 4-12 record. Despite boasting star players like Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson, the team’s defense was a major weakness, allowing the second-highest points per game in the league.
The 2004 NFL Draft featured an exceptional depth of quarterbacks, including Manning, Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matt Schaub. After being traded to the New York Giants, Manning went on to achieve great success, winning two Super Bowls, earning four Pro Bowl selections, and cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks.
