The 2019 season was widely expected to be the final one in Eli Manning's career, but the 16-year veteran quarterback has yet to make a decision on his future and has left the door open to possibly coming back.
Giants co-owner John Mara spoke to WFAN early Friday morning and said that although Manning's role as starting quarterback is over (with the ascension of Daniel Jones), there are still other options available for him to stick around.
"I haven't closed any doors on that," Mara said about Manning finding another role within the organization during an appearance on WFAN's Moose and Maggie Show. "Eli came to see me a few days ago, and we had a nice, long talk, but I don't think he's fully decided yet what he wants to do. And I've told him just take his time, think about it some more and then come back and see me again."
Mara added that he wouldn't be opposed to Manning returning as a backup to Jones, but new head coach Joe Judge would need to sign off on that. Manning himself has already said he doesn't want to be a backup.
"Obviously, he's been the best representative of this franchise, maybe that we've ever had -- I mean, both what he's done on the field, the way he conducts himself off the field, the professionalism that he shows," Mara said. "You can't ask for a better representative than Eli Manning. So he's going to take his time, and we'll hopefully have another discussion at some point in the future."
Manning started just three games for the Giants this season, as they shifted their focus towards the future in Jones.