New Orleans natives and NFL icons Eli and Peyton Manning headline the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The brothers, who combined for four Super Bowl titles, will be inducted alongside former O. Perry Walker High and University of New Orleans basketball standout Bo McCalebb. The ceremony will take place at the AllState Sugar Bowl awards banquet at the Caesars Superdome on Wednesday.
Eli Manning, the youngest son of former Saints quarterback Archie Manning, starred at Isidore Newman School before shining at Ole Miss. He set multiple school records, earning the Maxwell Award and SEC Player of the Year honors in 2003.
The San Diego Chargers selected him first overall in the 2004 NFL draft before trading him to the Giants. Over 16 seasons with New York, he passed for 57,023 yards and 366 touchdowns, leading the franchise to Super Bowl victories in XLII and XLVI, and was named game MVP both times.
Peyton reflected on their shared roots, expressing gratitude for the city’s support. Eli echoed those sentiments, noting the special bond with New Orleans fans who backed him throughout his college and NFL careers.
“I have a great love for sports, and I have a great love for New Orleans, so it means a ton to go into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame,” Manning said. “It’s very special to me because that’s where I grew up. I have a special love for the people, and the people of New Orleans have always supported me through my college career and through my NFL career. They’ve always welcomed me home, so it’s a special bond and I’m very honored to go into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.”
Cooper Manning will moderate a Q&A with his brothers during the event.
The induction celebrates the Mannings’ enduring connection to their hometown and their remarkable legacies in professional football.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants legend Eli Manning leads 2026 New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Class
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Benton, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
