INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Manning is now the family leader in Super Bowl rings.
Eli won his second Super Bowl with the Giants on Sunday, one more than brother Peyton, who led the Colts to Super Bowl XLI over the Bears.
And Eli earned his second Lombardi Trophy in the town Peyton where has played quarterback since 1998.
“It’s always great to win a Super Bowl no matter where you are,” Eli said from the postgame podium after leading the Giants over the Patriots, 21-17, and being named Super Bowl MVP for the second time.
Eli completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards, one touchdown and none of the interceptions that plagued him earlier in his career.
His father Archie was asked after the game about the possibility of having two Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
“I don’t know anything about the Hall of Fame,” Archie said. “Eli is in his eighth year, and I know one thing: He said earlier this year that he belonged with the elite quarterbacks. He will not be saying that he belongs in the Hall of Fame. I know Eli that well. He is in his eighth year, and I hope he can stay healthy for a long time.”
That is not the case with Peyton right now. He missed the entire season after having three neck surgeries, and along with Colts owner Jim Irsay, stole headlines away from the Super Bowl all week.
Now that the game is over, it will not detract from another superb performance by Eli in his best season in the NFL.
“I’m excited to win a championship,” said Eli, who had not spoken to Peyton after the game. “I’m excited for my teammates. There are a number of guys, this is their first one. There are some other ones who are getting their second and more, but I’m just excited for them.
“I’m excited for coach (Tom) Coughlin, all of the coaches and the Giants organization. This isn’t about one person. This is about a team coming together, getting this win. I’m just proud of our guys, proud of our team and how we fought all year. We never got discouraged, kept their faith and kept their confidence and just fought to the very end.”
It may be the last game a Manning starts in Indianapolis for a while with Peyton likely headed to a new NFL team next year, if he returns to full health.
“He just hung in there,” Archie said of Eli, who like in the Super Bowl XLII win over the Patriots had to lead a game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
“He was patient, and he had to be patient. He was sacked some early, and it wasn’t easy. There wasn’t anything easy out there. He played like a quarterback needs to play.”