Eli Manning is less than a month into his new role with the Giants, and the two-time Super Bowl champ and franchise favorite is still adjusting to life off the field, but the familiar surroundings of MetLife Stadium provide a sense of comfort.
“Obviously just kinda getting started and a lot of the people aren’t even in the building yet, so they’re just now letting people back into the facilities,” Manning told Audacy’s Jeff Nowak. “The players have been off kinda since I signed on. So excited to back with the Giants, they’ve been such an important part of my life.”
Manning, now with the organization in business operations and fan engagement, didn’t take on his new role until last month, but even if he wanted to spend time around the franchise last season after retiring in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that from being possible.
“I played there for 16 years, I retired in February of last year and the pandemic hit a month later,” Manning said. “I wasn’t allowed into the facility for a whole year.”
Now, with MetLife set to open at full capacity for the upcoming season, with optimism surrounding the Giants thanks to a number of offseason additions and the eventual return of Saquon Barkley, Manning can enjoy his first season as a Giant once again, embracing the familiarity of where he became a franchise legend.
“It’s not so much the players, there’s obviously a number of teammates that are great friends that I wasn’t allowed to see,” Manning said. “But it was the trainers and the equipment rooms and the PR people, film room and cafeteria guys that I saw every day for 16 years, and all of a sudden you’re cut off. Missed those guys, so I’m excited to be back and be with them and help out the organization.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch