NFL legend and two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning may have retired after the 2019 season, but he certainly hasn't slowed down. Far from relaxing on a beach, the former New York Giants quarterback has kept busy with a full slate of projects.
Eli co-hosts ESPN's "ManningCast" alongside his brother Peyton for Monday Night Football and stars in his own ESPN+ series "Eli's Places".
Off the field, Manning is also known for his philanthropic work. He has long supported causes, including Tom Coughlin's Jay Fund, which helps families battling childhood cancer, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind, where he has raised money and awareness to provide guide dogs for the visually impaired.
Eli Manning Goes Undercover as an Umpire
Yet, Manning still found time to try on a different kind of uniform. Over the weekend, he went undercover as an umpire with the Savannah Bananas during their stop at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Bananas, known for their high-energy "Banana Ball" exhibition games, are currently touring 40 cities across the U.S., drawing crowds with their mix of baseball, comedy, and fan interaction.
Manning joined the umpire crew before the game, practicing his calls backstage while joking around with his kids, who teased him by asking, "Why do you look so old, Dad?"
Watch it here:
Once on the field, he leaned into the role, playfully interacting with players and fans. At one point, one of his calls was challenged and overturned, sparking a mock argument with the Bananas' veteran umpire Vincent Chapman.
The hilarious exchange led to the big reveal. Manning pulled off his black umpire shirt to show his iconic Giants No. 10 jersey underneath. But in true Bananas fashion, he took it one step further, revealing a yellow Savannah Bananas T-shirt beneath, emblazoned with a No. 1. The crowd at Yankee Stadium roared with approval.
Savannah Bananas Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images
Who Do the Savannah Bananas Play?
During their Yankee Stadium stop, the Bananas faced off against the Firefighters, a fitting tribute during a week when Americans and New Yorkers remembered the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Besides the Firefighters, the Bananas play the Texas Tailgaters, the Party Animals, and the Visitors.
The team even joked that he'd make a great returning umpire, and based on the crowd's reaction, it appears fans would love to see him back in the yellow jersey again. Whether he's on the baseball field, the football field, or TV, Eli Manning has the magic that always leaves us asking for more.
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