Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer?

Perhaps. Or maybe not. Even though he has no All-Pro honors and achieved two surprising Super Bowl victories against the formidable Tom Brady and Bill Belichick-led Patriots, former New York Giants quarterback Manning has made it as a finalist in his first year of eligibility.

Over the weekend, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 modern-era finalists, with Manning’s inclusion expected to fuel the most heated discussions among the 49 selectors tasked with deciding the Class of 2025 in January.

Full disclosure: As one of the selectors, this is not an attempt to persuade fellow voters. I am eager for an enlightening discussion.

But goodness gracious.

Another question arises: Is Darren Woodson a Hall of Famer? The former safety clinched three Super Bowl titles with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s and secured four first-team All-Pro selections. He holds the record for most tackles in the franchise’s history. However, Woodson is now in his 17^th year of eligibility, teetering on the brink of being placed in the deep seniors pool after 20 years without induction as a modern-era candidate.

See, this can be quite perplexing. Rodney Harrison is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and one of only two players in NFL history with both 30 interceptions and 30 sacks. He was a finalist for the last three years but wasn’t selected as one of the top 15 this time.

Earl Thomas won a Super Bowl and played in another with the Seattle Seahawks, and like Luke Kuechly, was recognized as a first-team All-Decade player with seven Pro Bowl selections and seven All-Pro honors. Yet Thomas did not move forward as a finalist, while Kuechly did. This raises questions. Kuechly’s selection might pave the way for fellow All-Decade linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is still on the field. We shall see.

Others who did not make the list of 25 semifinalists include: Richmond Webb, an All-Decade left tackle who guarded Dan Marino; James Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl winner and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year; and Hines Ward, who for the ninth consecutive year, is caught in a logjam of wide receivers making it tougher to break through.

Highlighting those who were overlooked does not lessen the achievement of the finalists, but it emphasizes how competitive the Hall of Fame process is for securing spots.

The ultimate goal, as the legendary Deacon Jones put it, is being enshrined in Canton, a team you can never be cut from. However, navigating the challenges to earn that bronze bust can be especially tough for undeniably qualified candidates.

This year’s roster again includes former receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne, both returning as six-time finalists, along with ex-defensive end Jared Allen, now a five-time finalist with 136 career sacks. Willie Anderson, a former right tackle, is among the finalists for the fourth time. Jahri Evans and Eric Allen are second-time finalists, but interestingly, Evans is in his third year of eligibility, while Allen, a cornerback whose 54 interceptions rank 21^st all-time, is in his 19^th year of eligibility. Time is running out.

Antonio Gates is also back for his second time as a finalist. With an impressive 116 career receiving touchdowns—more than any tight end—it’s puzzling why the former Charger wasn’t elected on the first ballot last year. The four-game suspension for PED use in 2015 may have harmed Gates’ chances, although a similar misstep did not prevent Julius Peppers from being chosen right away. It can be confusing.

Maybe the situation is just a numbers game and about timing. For instance, Michael Strahan was chosen in his second year of eligibility, while Brian Urlacher made it on his first.

A recurring theme is recency bias. Among the 15 finalists, five are considered first-ballot candidates: Manning, Kuechly, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri, and Marshal Yanda. Not implying that they aren’t deserving, but why the rush?

Yet, if I were a candidate, I’d feel the rush due to a wave of new candidates coming next year and the year after, which will likely lead to another round of recency bias.

The lesson here: If Hall of Fame induction doesn’t occur quickly for a candidate, it can be tough. Each year has only a limited number of available slots. Yes, it should be challenging to gain entry. It’s not the Hall of the Very Good, but the process can still be highly subjective.

Outstanding statistics, Pro Bowl appearances, and All-Decade designations undoubtedly enhance a candidate’s case. However, when many contestants have similar accomplishments, it often becomes difficult to distinguish the best from the greatest.

This marks my 27^th year as a selector. It’s been an incredible honor that I approach with great seriousness. When I joined the committee, I assumed the process would be straightforward.

Not at all. This isn’t just due to the inherent campaigning involved.

Sure, some votes have been easy for obvious picks. I vividly remember the “discussion” regarding one candidate when Ira Miller, the selector presenting that case, stood up and declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present Joe Montana.”

Then Ira sat down. That was the entirety of the discussion.

Other candidates were similarly introduced with brief presentations: Bruce Smith, Jerry Rice, Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders among them.

However, most candidates engage in detailed discussions – and sometimes heated debates – during the lengthy selection meeting leading up to the Super Bowl week announcement of the latest class. For example, despite Lawrence Taylor’s greatness, his induction faced considerable scrutiny.

There will undoubtedly be some passionate discussions surrounding Manning. He comes from a legendary football family and defeated the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl, but remember: this is a team sport, albeit with individual honors.

Ignore the fact that Manning manipulated the NFL draft process to avoid the Chargers and secure a spot in New York. That aspect doesn’t affect his chances for the Hall of Fame. However, the reality that he was never among the league’s top quarterbacks is certainly a consideration.

If Manning deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, then what does that say about Jim Plunkett?

Plunkett, who was ironically picked first overall in 1971—one position ahead of Eli’s father, Archie—also claimed two Super Bowl titles with the Raiders.

Nonetheless, whether due to recent perceptions or not, Plunkett has rarely been brought up as a finalist in discussions. It’s likely, however, that he will come up in conversations surrounding Manning’s Hall of Fame candidacy.

The discussion continues.