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Television commercial star and NFL analyst Eli Manning has made retirement look so good that other great quarterbacks can’t wait to join him.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP retired from the Giants after the 2019 season. Drew Brees and Philip Rivers followed his lead one year later. Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady hung up their cleats in the last couple weeks. Because he was the first one out, Manning will be the first one of the five contemporaries to appear on Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot, for the class of 2025, after his five-year waiting period.

“It’s one of those deals that you can’t control, you can’t worry about,” Manning told The Post. “Everything has been done. All the passes have already happened. I’m just enjoying retirement and the new things that I’m doing, my family and coaching my kids in their sports. I’m probably more worried about whether they are going to make the All-Star team than I am about whether I’m going to make the Hall of Fame.”

The 49 Hall of Fame voters are required to select at least four but no more than eight inductees in each class. There are no position limitations, but Manning unwittingly put himself in a good spot to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer before his résumé is dissected compared to the others.


  Eli Manning Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock Eli Manning Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock

Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger, Rivers and Manning all rank in the NFL’s career top-10 in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Of the five, Manning has the worst regular-season record (117-117) but the best postseason résumé other than Brady, whom he beat head-to-head in two Super Bowls. Unless premature retiree Andrew Luck is selected, it is likely no quarterback will be inducted between Peyton Manning (2021) and Eli’s eligibility.

“You are always proud of your draft class,” Eli said. “For me, with Roethlisberger and Rivers, all of us playing 16, 17, 18 years.

“Guys are taking care of their bodies. They are protecting quarterbacks more now. You used to start seeing your arm strength die down — and not being able to throw the ball down the field affects so many things. Now the different exercises, being smarter about maintaining your arm and strengthening it, and the routine to get it warmed up is letting guys play a lot longer.”

All Hall of Famers need an 80 percent approval vote from the selection committee. Other first-year eligible players in 2025 include Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Marshal Yanda.

Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen are just some of the young quarterbacks ready to carry the torch for another golden era.

“The NFL is in a good place with the young talent, especially at quarterback,” Manning said. “It’s fun to watch these guys play. So many unique talents, who can run the ball and throw it. It makes football exciting to watch and makes these offenses really explosive.”

Manning is part of Frank’s Red Hot’s launch of its first-ever edible NFT, the “Bonecoin” wings-eating challenge.

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