There was a point in time when Eli Manning had a lot of interest in buying a piece of the New York Giants.
For starters, he's a savvy businessman, just like his big brother, Peyton. The duo host and produce ESPN's ManningCast, among other business ventures. So, it made sense that Eli wanted to dip his toe in an NFL ownership stake, and the only team that truly made sense was the Giants, where he spent his entire career and led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins.
But after a long thought process, Eli's had a change of heart. And the answer's pretty easy to guess.
"Basically, it's too expensive for me," he told CNBC Sport. "A 1% stake valued at $10 billion turns into a very big number."
CNBC's official NFL team valuations, published in September, has the Giants valued at $7.85 billion. That puts the Giants fourth among the league's 32 teams.
While there may be teams with a much less valuation, Eli told CNBC Sport that he has zero interest in an ownership stake with a different team. What's more, Eli said an ownership stake would mean losing out on other interests that are dear to him.
"I wouldn't be able to talk to players that I coached in the Pro Bowl. It was going to affect my day job," said Eli, adding there could have been conflicts of interest with his role on ESPN's ManningCast.
As CNBC Sport reported, Eli made more than $250 million in his 16-year career in the NFL. Then there's the millions he earned in endorsements. He also owns the production company Ten Till Productions, and is a partner in the private equity firm, Brand Velocity Group.
Manning balled out at Ole Miss before he was the No. 1 overall selection by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was quickly traded to the Giants and twice led the team to Super Bowl victories over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Eli retired in January 2020. He's eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.
Why Eli Manning Has Lost All Interest in Buying a Piece of the New York Giants first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 9, 2025
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