As the 2004 NFL Draft approached, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning was widely regarded as the top overall pick. Manning was regarded as one of the most promising prospects in recent memory. So it was a clear certainty that he’d wind up with the then-San Diego Chargers, who had the first pick. Right?
Not very much.
While Manning was one of the better prospects in recent memory, there were natural comparisons with two others who had been regarded even higher when they were drafted — Stanford quarterback John Elway in 1983 and Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning in 1998. The connection between Eli and Peyton Manning was obvious — they were (and still are) brothers.
And as Elway had done in 1983 with the then Baltimore Colts, Manning made it clear in 2004 that he would not play for the Chargers.
How did that — as well as the subsequent 20 years — work out?
2003 season
Manning, as his father, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, had done, played college football at Ole Miss. He was a three-year starter for the Rebels. From 2001-2003, Manning completed 61.1% of his passes for 9,949 yards with 81 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. In 2003, he completed 62.4% of his passes for 3,600 yards with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while leading Ole Miss to a Cotton Bowl win. Manning ultimately finished third in Heisman Trophy voting that year.
In the NFL, meanwhile, the Chargers struggled to a 4-12 season. Third-year running back LaDanian Tomlinson was on his way to being one of the all-time greats, rushing for 1,645 yards while also catching 100 passes for 725 yards. But the quarterback position left a lot to be desired. Combined, Drew Brees and Doug Flutie completed 56.6% of their passes for 3,205 yards with 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.
In general, the Chargers were still reeling from taking quarterback Ryan Leaf second overall in 1998 — an unmitigated disaster that we’ll be revisiting shortly. San Diego managed to go 8-8 in 1999 and 2002 but hadn’t had a winning season or made the playoffs since 1995. The Chargers went 4-12 in 1997, putting them in position to draft Leaf second overall in 1998. And around the .500 seasons, San Diego went 5-11 in 1998 and 2001, 1-15 in 2000 and 4-12 in 2003.
Eli Manning appeared to be the man to lead the Chargers out of their agony, much as Peyton Manning had done for the Indianapolis Colts.
