Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history and still cannot believe it happened. From the time little kids wander onto the field for the first time, the quote regarding “any given Sunday” enters their minds. Upsets and sports, since the beginning of time, have run hand-in-hand.
While it doesn’t occur too often in the biggest game of the season, David slaying Goliath does occur. When the drama unfolds, every play’s magnitude and importance matter. For the two-time Super Bowl champion, capturing his first title still amazes him.
Eli Manning Details the Environment Surrounding His First Super Bowl Victory
In the course of two months, Manning elevated his national perception and defeated an indestructible team in the process. For the previous three years, the New York Giants quarterback cobbled together good-but-never-great seasons. During that span, the Giants’ record sat at a mediocre 20-19 with Manning at the helm.
In 2007, not only did the mood change, but history stood still. Weeks before the fateful day in Glendale, Ariz., the Giants gave the undefeated New England Patriots not only their toughest test but also their biggest scare. Trailing 38-28, Manning found Plaxico Burress on a three-yard touchdown pass. Now, keep that last sentence in mind. Although the Giants lost that day, the team gained a new confidence.
However, everyone thought New England would steamroll them. The two teams met in Super Bowl XLII. This time, with the Patriots only up by four, Manning found Burress with 35 seconds remaining on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Giants, called average at best, prevented the Patriots from running the table and going undefeated, 17-14. On the “Glue Guys Podcast,” co-host Shane Battier asked Manning about those special moments.
“My teammates are all pretty young,” Manning said. “We all came in together. All of us are 27, 28, or 29 years old. You feel like you’re on top of the world with some of your best friends. When I came in four years ago, they had the fourth pick in the draft.
“The reason you have the fourth pick is you’re a terrible team,” Manning continued. “We’ve changed the culture of the program, of the team. Enjoying that moment, I feel like I could take a breath. You can relax a little bit in that sense. It doesn’t want to make you not work hard.”
In that game, Manning accomplished two goals that few quarterbacks succeeded at achieving. First, the Patriots’ mystique didn’t shake his resolve. With the championship on the line, he made throws against a Bill Belichick-schemed defense that would shut teams down with regularity. On a manageable third-and-five, from the Giants’ 44-yard line, Manning launched convention out the window.
“The Helmet Catch”
Eli Manning to David Tyree
SUPER BOWL XLII#Giants–#Patriots
February 3, 2008 pic.twitter.com/ppfiqB4k9c— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 3, 2025
With all signs pointing to throwing just beyond the sticks, the quarterback decided against that tactic. Instead, he dropped back, and defensive lineman Ty Warren grabbed his jersey. Warren, a 300-pound defensive lineman, looked like he would force fourth down.
Manning spun away, uncorking a deep ball that wide receiver David Tyree caught with his helmet, secured by his hand. Four plays later, Burress got open for six points. Four years later, he led the Giants to another Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
Manning finished his career with a 117-117 record as a starting quarterback. While his career suffered through six losing seasons after the second championship, not too many people remember those lean years.
During a 16-year career, the quarterback ended his year with confetti and a championship. Manning’s legend started with a 32-yard completion and grew from that point, solidifying him as a New York sports icon.