Eli Manning explains why the Chargers were never really an option for him originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist appeared on the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast this week and gave the most detailed account yet of why he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after they selected him first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.
“I just didn’t feel like they were the most committed team to winning at the time,” Manning said. “Marty Schottenheimer was the head coach. He was awesome. Had great respect for him. But they came to work me out in New Orleans, went to dinner, and there was just friction between the head coach, general manager, the owners. They’re all kind of yelling, kind of like fighting.”
A chaotic dinner in New Orleans sealed Manning’s key decision
The dinner happened at a Marriott restaurant in New Orleans, which itself became a point of tension. Manning recounted head coach Schottenheimer’s reaction openly:
“Schottenheimer’s mad. He’s like, ‘We’re in New Orleans and we’re eating at a Marriott?’ He was pissed.”
The friction was between Schottenheimer, general manager A.J. Smith, and the Spanos ownership group. From across the table, Manning saw enough to make his call.
He also addressed the long-held belief that his father, Archie, drove the decision. He said his father was actually not supportive of it initially.
“It didn’t seem like there was a whole lot of agreement on things and they were committed to building a great winning franchise at that moment,” he said. “My parents really weren’t supportive. My dad didn’t like the idea. Now, he came to my defense and supported me after everything was going down.”
Wow: The legendary Eli Manning explains why he didn’t want to go to the Chargers.
“I didn’t feel like they were the most committed team to winning… It didn’t seem like they were building a winning franchise.”
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(via @BussinWTB) pic.twitter.com/fYnOZiSVbS
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 20, 2026
Archie Manning caught significant criticism at the time, with many pointing to his own career in New Orleans as evidence of ulterior motive. Per Eli, his father quietly absorbed it.
Manning’s read on the Chargers’ internal dysfunction turned out to be accurate. Schottenheimer was fired by San Diego after the 2006 season, despite a 14-2 record, due to well-documented tension with Smith. The relationship between the head coach and front office had never stabilized.
Manning was eventually traded to New York for Philip Rivers, the fourth overall pick. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the Giants, including two Super Bowl MVP awards. He called the decision something he is fully at peace with.