Former New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara voiced his strong disagreement with Eli Manning's exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2025 class. In an interview with TMZ Sports, Amukamara expressed his disbelief, emphasizing Manning's accomplishments: two Super Bowl MVP awards and a remarkable record of consistent play throughout his career.
Amukamara, who played alongside Manning for five seasons, including the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI victory, highlighted Manning's durability, noting the quarterback's impressive streak of 210 consecutive starts, which ended only due to a benching, not injury. He believes these factors, coupled with Manning's Super Bowl victories against a formidable opponent (widely considered the greatest of all time), make a compelling case for Hall of Fame induction.
Manning's Hall of Fame worthiness has been a subject of ongoing debate. While his impressive statistics include ranking 11th all-time in both passing yards and touchdowns, his career 117-117 record and 244 interceptions (12th most all-time) are often cited as arguments against his inclusion. Amukamara acknowledged the deserving nature of the inducted class, which includes Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, Sterling Sharpe, and Eric Allen, but maintained his stance on Manning's omission, considering it a snub. He also expressed similar sentiments about Luke Kuechly, the former Carolina Panthers linebacker, whose impressive eight-season career was cut short.
Kuechly, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, garnered accolades such as Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Despite a shorter career, his impact on the game, including leading the NFL in tackles twice, made him a strong contender in Amukamara's view.
Reflecting on his own nine-year NFL career, Amukamara lightheartedly mentioned he wouldn't want to say anything that might jeopardize his own (unlikely) future Hall of Fame chances.
