1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Either Eli. Um so just in your time since you've 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: been retired, and as you get ready for this big day, 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: which of course is historic and Giants history, and you 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: were never going to talk about your own accolades. But 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: have you had time to reflect on what you've meanted 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: this franchise and this honor that they were was showing 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: to you on Sunday? You know, I think, um, you know, 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: I I appreciate this honor. I know it is extremely special, 9 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: and um, you know, I think I still try to 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: just you know, think back and think about all the 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: wonderful times, all the wonderful coaches that I've had in 12 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: my life, the wonderful teammates that I've had in my life, 13 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: and without them, without their mentorship, without their friendship and 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: and and you know, their abilities, this this is not possible. 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: It is even though you know it's my number, I think, um, 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: you know it is. It is kind of a celebration. 17 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: I look at a celebration of all the teammates and 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: the people who threw touchdowns too, and who blocked for me, 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: and defensive guys who helped us get wins. Um um, 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: you know, football is such a team sport and always 21 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: you know, always talked about the quarterback probably gets too 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: much credit when you win, and maybe too much blame 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: when you lose as well. But UM, it is such 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: an honor to just to have played my sixteen years 25 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: with the New York Giants and to be um, you know, 26 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: one of the twelve jerseys retired by this story franchise 27 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: is uh, you know, it's probably hadn't kicked in that 28 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: that is that's a reality quite yet perspect Eli, congratulations. UM, 29 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: what what would you like your legacy to be when 30 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: when people are looking back on your career with the 31 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: New York Football Giants? You know what? Um? And I 32 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: think just the availability. That's something that I probably take 33 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: most pride in, just the fact that you know, I 34 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: was I was there a weekend and week out every 35 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: week and to never you know, miss a game because 36 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: of injury or or anything else. Uh, you know, I 37 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: think that that was always important to me to UM. 38 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: I think the players are you know, responded to that. 39 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: They took great pride in that, and as it went on, 40 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: I mean, they didn't want to be my offensive linement, 41 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: didn't want to be part of the group that got Eli, 42 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: you know, hit or injured. You know, to miss a game, 43 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: and in the games where I was banged up and 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: I was you know, had an injury. You know, I 45 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: think that those next weeks they blocked even harder, just 46 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: say hey, you know, um, we gotta keep him healthy 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: and we don't want to make this worse. And so 48 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: I think they saw that they saw that I wanted 49 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: to be out there and and that I you know, 50 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to be out there at practice, and I 51 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 1: think it that that was hopefully contagious and the other 52 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: guys We're gonna be out there and do everything they 53 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: could to be there. And so that's something you know, 54 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: you can There's only so much you can control, uh, 55 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: playing football. You cannot control the outcome every single game. 56 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: There's too many, um, you know, things that are out 57 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: of out of your control. But you can, you know, 58 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: can call your desire, your heart, and and your your 59 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,679 Speaker 1: willingness to do whatever it takes to be there for 60 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: your team and your organization and your teammates. Hold don Eli, 61 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:22,399 Speaker 1: enjoy it. Thank you, Chris Eli. First off, congratulations man 62 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: on everything. Thank you. Eli. Like to talk about a 63 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: guy who's obviously you've every big to you and Tom 64 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: Coughlin especially after the news that coach Conflin came out 65 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: with last week with the health issues with his wife. 66 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: If you don't mind, you like talk about you know, 67 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: you're a young pop coming into this league and Conflin 68 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: coach you through everything. Um, you know, your feelings towards him, Yeah, 69 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: you know, Uh don't you know, can't say enough great 70 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: things about coach Coughlin and oh so much my success 71 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: to him and his Um. You know, it's just the 72 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: way he pushed me and he, um you know, taught 73 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: me this the importance of preparation and hard work and 74 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: and team above self. And it's all the lessons um 75 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: that I learned. UM. And I feel that, you know, 76 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: one of the that's one of the great honors and 77 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: privileges that I had I was being being able to 78 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: play under him for twelve seasons. And um, you know 79 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: we still we still talk, we still communicate. I still 80 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: look as at him as a mentor and and keep 81 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: him in my life. And and I've talked about, you know, 82 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: with him and with Judy and and everything going on, 83 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: uh and in his life. And I've known about it 84 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: for a long time and and um, you know, I 85 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: know it's you know, seeing the struggles he's going through, 86 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: you know, dealing with that, he's all of a sudden 87 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: kind of has a different role um going on right 88 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 1: now with him. But I think he has always um. 89 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: You know, he's been open about it, and he's you know, 90 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: talked about it and he's dealing with it and making 91 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: the best of it. Thank you well. I enjoy you there. 92 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: Thank you kind of it, HEYLI, how you doing well? 93 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: You just talked about preparation and hard work, and that 94 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: kind of led into what I wanted to ask you 95 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: about when you retired. Were you prepared for the for 96 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: a retirement? I mean, had you thought out everything? Um? 97 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: Or did you say I'm going to enjoy it and 98 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: then we'll worry about what happens. Happens. I knew I 99 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: was ready to retire. That's kind of the only thing 100 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: I knew that. It was just I was, I was done, 101 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: and I wasn't done a second guest. I wasn't gone 102 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: to look back and and worry about it. I knew 103 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: that I was. I was. I was ready to be 104 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: done playing football, and that when I look back on 105 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: my time, I was just gonna reflect on on the 106 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: good moments and the happy moments and the and the 107 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: and the friendships I made and um, you know, the 108 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: winds we got this celebrate and remember those things. And so, 109 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: you know, I think it was I was like such 110 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,480 Speaker 1: a strange time and I wanted to take time away. 111 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: But you know, football, so you know, takes up a 112 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: lot of your time during the season, during the off season, 113 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: at nights, and so I wanted to take a year 114 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: off and and just be my family and see if 115 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: there is anything else I knew I wanted to pursue 116 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: or wanted to be interested in, and and just you know, 117 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: kind of step away. And with the pandemic, it made 118 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: it easy to do that is there are what many 119 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: options going on. And what I kind of realized is 120 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: that you know, I still and still love the game. 121 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: I still I love you know, prepping forward and watching 122 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: film and analyzing and talking about it. And you know, 123 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: some people, when I'm around people, they're like, I hate 124 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: to talk football with you. I said, that's that's what 125 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: I know. Like, I don't I don't know business, I 126 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: don't know how to read a spreadsheet, I don't know 127 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 1: everything going on in the world, uh all over the place. 128 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: But you know, I know the game of football, and 129 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: I enjoy talking about it. So I think that's um, 130 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: I don't know if I was prepared exactly for for 131 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: everything going on, but um, you know, I've enjoyed. I've enjoyed, 132 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: um you know, having downtime. I've enjoyed coaching my kids 133 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: and and some of their sports leagues, and and I'm 134 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: enjoying getting kind of getting back into the game, uh 135 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: this fall, you know, kind of with the Giants and 136 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: and through doing you know, Monday night football with with Peyton. 137 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 1: I mean I'm enjoying uh you know, getting a little 138 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: taste of it and and kind of getting slowly getting 139 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: back into it, but but not having to give all 140 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: the time that I used to have to give. And 141 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: the commercials yeah still you know, still doing commercials and 142 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 1: and have have time for that and and uh yeah, 143 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: I mean those are always always enjoyable, especially if I 144 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: can do some with with my family or with my brothers, 145 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: and um, you know, I think those are always kind 146 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: of a way to um, you know, kind of not 147 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: take yourself too seriously and in a way to show 148 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: your personality. And that was kind of how I did 149 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: it a little bit while I was playing and now. 150 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: I think it's another way just to continue showing the 151 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: lighter side of things. Olivia. Congratulations, Eli, Um. When I 152 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: look at your career, one of the real oddities, Eli, 153 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: is that you only had one home playoff win in 154 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: this stadium where you're now going to have this great 155 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: moment on Sunday. I'm curious if you think that's odd 156 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: at all that all your big games always seemed to 157 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: be not in this building, the games you remember for 158 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: the Super Bowls, the NFC championship games. It's weird you 159 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: only have the one home playoff win and kind of 160 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: what you remember about that game specifically because the Falcons 161 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: are obviously on the other side that Matt Ryan's on 162 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: the other side of this game, just like they were 163 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: in eleven. Yeah, I don't I don't know why. We 164 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: always seem to try to make it more difficult on 165 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: ourselves that it had to be. But that was kind 166 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: of our style. We like two minute, two minute drives 167 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: at the end of the games to win, and and 168 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: I guess we just uh enjoyed, you know, enjoyed kind 169 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: of creating the drama of football, and that's what the 170 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 1: fans wanted. I think we're just trying to please the 171 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: fans and keep keep the games interested. Um, but yeah, 172 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: I mean I think it is Yeah, it is strange 173 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: to have one playoff game, but you know, I remember 174 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: that one very well, that one win at home versus Atlanta, 175 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: and and uh, you know it's uh, it's you know 176 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: ingrained in the mind and just the feeling of the 177 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: of the crowd and of the you know, fans and 178 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: and everyone there. But um, you know, obviously we would 179 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: like to have more wins at home, um, you know, 180 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: during during playoffs, but you know, the ones on the 181 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: road we're still pretty special with, uh, with our teammates 182 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: and those fans that traveled there for just Hey, Eli, 183 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: thanks for doing this. Have a two part question for you. 184 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: You reference working with Peyton, was wondering if the enjoyment 185 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: level of broadcasting games with him has exceeded your expecta 186 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: Asians And then the second half, what has been the 187 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: most enjoyable part of retirement for you that has surprised you? Um? 188 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: You know I I um, yeah, I mean I think 189 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: I've enjoyed. Uh. You know, it was never a goal 190 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: of mine to get into broadcast. It wasn't like I 191 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: got done playing football and I was like, I definitely 192 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: want to hop right in the booth and start calling games. 193 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,559 Speaker 1: I kind of, you know, didn't necessarily think I would. 194 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: I would want to do that, and a lot of 195 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,679 Speaker 1: it is because of the traveling and to be you know, 196 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: being gone every weekend calling games, and that's kind of 197 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: what I wanted. I wanted my weekends back. That's something, 198 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, I thought, that's kind of part of a 199 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: good part of retiring is to be around on weekends 200 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: and go to sporting events and coach my kids and 201 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: so but I've enjoyed like doing a Monday night. I mean, 202 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: I got to have dinner with my kids on Monday 203 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: night and then you know, go down and call the 204 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: game and so um, you know, I've I've enjoyed that aspect. 205 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: And again just getting back into the game, uh you know, 206 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: getting breakdown film, kind of get to you know, talk 207 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: x's and those with my brother, which he explains if 208 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: but then try to explain that to the fans, and 209 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: I think there's doing it in this more relaxed way, 210 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: or I don't have to. I mean I don't know 211 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: the name of every single player on the field. I 212 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: don't know who the left guard is um, you know, 213 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: for the for the Baltimore Ravens, you know, uh, necessarily 214 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: and so you know, I think just hey, that's how 215 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: I would watch the game. What I would say, what 216 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: I would say, what I would notice, you know, and 217 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: if I could rewind, hey would want to rewind certain players, 218 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: to look at things, to explain it to someone who 219 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: might not know what's going on. And so I've enjoyed that, 220 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: and I think was just with retirement, I've enjoyed you 221 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: know a lot of it's just yeah, just kind of 222 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: you know, being around my kids sporting events I never 223 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: really got to do, missed a lot of those on 224 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: the weekends, um, over the years, and and you know, 225 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: when they're coach or do those things. I think just 226 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: being a part of a part of that with them 227 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: and and and um, you know, just enjoy being around 228 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: their friends. I didn't know a lot of their friends 229 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: and get to you know, be around them and have 230 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: some fun. But hey, you like, congratsmen, thank you. I'm 231 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: just curious when you look back on the totality of 232 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: it all, Uh, how much does that uh first Super 233 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: Bowl that the you know, the game winning drive there, 234 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: how much does that kind of help create what your 235 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: legacy has become. I mean how big a part of 236 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: that and what do you kind of remember about that 237 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: when we have fourteen years later? So yeah, I mean 238 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: that whole that whole playoff stretch was you know, probably 239 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: very very important. And and the you know, in my 240 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: career of seven and and coach Cofflin's you know, we 241 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: were probably both on the on that that line of hey, 242 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: do these guys have what it takes or not? And um, 243 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: you know, that stretch of of winning those playoff games 244 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: and going into Green Bay and then you know, of 245 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: course you're going against you know what, would know it 246 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 1: could be known as the greatest team of all time 247 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: and that you know, oh seven Patriots team in the 248 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: super Bowl and and be able to beat them, and 249 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: I think it you know, um, there have been kind 250 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: of glimpses of good and some bad and all that, 251 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: some ups and downs, and I think, um, you know, 252 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: that kind of just proved that hey, you know, he 253 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: can he can play well in the biggest moments and 254 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: that's something we're able to do quite a few times. 255 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: And and so um, you know, it was obviously an 256 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: unbelievable feeling, and um, you know you. You know, there's 257 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: something you just share with with your teammates. You see 258 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: your teammates from from those from that oh seven team, 259 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 1: and it was just a very special buy and a 260 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: lot of us came in together, O'Hara and Christy and 261 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,719 Speaker 1: I mean Dave Deal been one year before, and you know, 262 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: Kareie mckensey just joined, and so you kind of had 263 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: a lot of guys that were young coming in together, 264 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: Brandon Jacobs and Um. You know, to kind of stay 265 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: together and go win a championship was was very special 266 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: and you just can you know, have a special connection 267 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: and behind with those players and those coaches from from 268 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: that season. All right, Eli, they're retiring number ten, Can 269 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: you can you take us back to the genesis of it. 270 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: I know you were eighteen in high school and and 271 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: obviously that was retired when you got to college. Do 272 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: you remember the first time you were given number ten 273 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: and and why you picked it or why it was 274 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: picked for you? Yeah? You know, when I went to 275 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: Old Miss, Um, you know, it's gotta hey, what what 276 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: numbers are available? A little bit they asked me if 277 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: I wanted to wear eighteen at Old Miss. It was 278 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: you know, it was already retired from my dad wearing, 279 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: and they said they would take it out of retirement 280 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: and let me wear it. I said, no, I don't, 281 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: I'm not. I'm not going to do that. And I 282 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 1: can't remember what the options were every fourteen or or 283 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: some single digits, but I've never been a single digit number, 284 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: and so I just I'd never worn I think I 285 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: kind of said I'd never worn number ten before. I 286 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: don't think I ever ever had it, you know, at 287 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: any league or level growing up, And so I said, 288 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: you know, I'll go to it. I kind of like it, 289 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: and so I picked it from there and worked out 290 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: into college. And when I got to the Giants, UM, 291 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: Jeff Fiagels was number ten, and I mayor just I mean, 292 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: on the way from um, you know where I was drafted, 293 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: Masterson's Regarden. You're kind of going to Giant State and 294 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: be welcome, was on you know, someone had Fiegals on 295 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: the on the line, and we worked out a deal 296 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: real quick for a trip to Florida. UM, and you know, 297 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: you know, if it was gonna be easy and simple, 298 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: not a big story, then I said I do it. 299 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: If it was gonna beat you know something outrageous. I've 300 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: probably would have moved on and found a number, another number. 301 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: I didn't know what was available at the time, but 302 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: it was very easy. And and if I said, if 303 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: I could keep it, I'd I'd like to keep it, 304 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: and and uh, you know, the rest is history. Let's 305 00:15:55,200 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: take three more. Patty glauber Schwartz, Patty Eli, congratulate Shans 306 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: on this tremendous honor. Um. Just kind of curious when 307 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: you first come into the league, obviously, you don't have expectations. 308 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: You don't know how things are going to go, you know, 309 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: how you'd like them to go and whatnot. But when 310 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: you look back over your career, can you just talk 311 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: a little bit about the growth you experience as a person, 312 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: you know, not as a football player. You know, we 313 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: know about the records, but as a person, the maturity 314 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: that you went through, through the ups and downs and whatnot. Yeah, 315 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: I mean obviously, um, yeah, I mean you come into 316 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: the NFL and you're you're twenty two or twenty three 317 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: years old, and and just the you know, I think 318 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: my mindset when I first got there. She all of 319 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: a sudden, you come into that locker room and you 320 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: see a Monty Toomer, Michael Strahan and Luke pettiguw and 321 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: Tig Barber and these guys who have had success and 322 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: these guys, um, who are you know, big personalities and 323 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: these you know guys that have families and have kids. 324 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: You're like, you know, holy cal Like, I'm not I'm 325 00:16:57,320 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: not in college anymore. In college, you're all the same age. 326 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: You're all you know, kind of going through the same issues. 327 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: And now you're with some some grown some grown men, 328 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: and um, you know, my my take was, Hey, I'm 329 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: gonna I'm gonna keep my head down, I'm gonna work hard, 330 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: I'm gonna you know, being early, I'm gonna stay late. 331 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to you know, ask good questions when 332 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 1: when I need to, and and just try to earn 333 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 1: the respect of my teammates by by just you know, 334 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: being dependable, showing up and trying to do all the 335 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: right things and and and earn earn it through just 336 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: being tough and taking hits and getting up and and 337 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: being there every every week. And I think that was 338 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: kind of kind of the mentality, you know, all sixteen years. 339 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: I wanted to earn the respect to my teammates and 340 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: even you know that, you know you're fifteen. When you 341 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: have rookies coming in, I wanted them to see how 342 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: I was working and how I was preparing and and 343 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: how important it was to me. And I wanted them 344 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 1: to see, this is a guy who's, you know, fifteen 345 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: or sixteen years into it, and he's still grinding and 346 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: still asking questions than he's engaged in every meeting. And 347 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: so I think that was always always the mindset and 348 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: the mentality and and fact as you get older, you 349 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: also want to be a mentor and help those younger 350 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: people learn and have success and to reach their um, 351 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: you know, their full potential. Thank you, I like congratulations. Um. 352 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: You were talking earlier about you knew you were done, um, 353 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: but you still wanted to take a year away from football. 354 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: And I'm curious, and I just said one follow after that, 355 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: I'm curious, if you at the end of that year 356 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: kind of felt rejuvenate and recharge, would you have considered 357 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: playing again if the opportunity presented itself. No, I don't think. 358 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: You know, you know, you've seen a few guys take 359 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: the year off and come back and gronk because obviously 360 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: doing it. Jason Widd did it, and but you know, 361 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: there was no no interest in coming back. I saw 362 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: I saw the hits, the quarterbacks were taken, and I said, 363 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: I'm not. I don't I want to experience that anymore. 364 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: I like how I feel every every Monday morning when 365 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: I wake up, and and you know, and it's not 366 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: just the hits, it's just everything. Uh. You know, I 367 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 1: enjoyed the preparation I could have gotten back into, you 368 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: know that part, but just just the losing, just the everything, um, 369 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: just to grind of it all, I think, I just 370 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: I don't know if I could have um totally got 371 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: back into all that and more of this. Yeah, the 372 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: losses just hurt more. They affect your sleep, they affect 373 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: your week, It affects family life with my wife and kids, 374 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: and it just got I just got too much. And 375 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: so I like, you know, watching watching the games, and 376 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 1: I root for the Giants, and I you know, I 377 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: feel form um, you know, after a loss. But you 378 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: know what, I I go to bed very easily on 379 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 1: Sunday nights and wake up and you know, feel good 380 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: about the upcoming week. And it's not something that that lingers, 381 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:57,719 Speaker 1: you know, for three or four days. I get used 382 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: to then do you think if possible, if you guys 383 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: were winning, you would have continued playing? Um, well, I mean, 384 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: you know, hey, that's just with with the contracts, and 385 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: you know, a contract was up and it was this time, 386 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: it was time to be done. So I wasn't wasn't 387 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: playing at the level I used to you know, used 388 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: to be playing, and so it was just time to 389 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: hang it up. And and said I had I had 390 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 1: a good run and now it's time to be done. Okay, sorry, 391 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: Just what with your New York connection with your your dad? 392 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,680 Speaker 1: Was there a connection with him that you knew about 393 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: with the Giants that meant a little bit more for 394 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: you playing your entire career here? You know, um, you 395 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: know my dad obviously, Uh, you know my dad. I 396 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: grew up listening to the Giants on the radio just 397 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: because of Charlie connor Like Charlie Connolly was a great quarterback. 398 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,360 Speaker 1: It played for Old Miss, came to New York Giants, 399 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: played his fifteen years with the Giants at quarterback. And 400 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: so I think it's pretty neat kind of that similarities 401 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: that Charlie connor Ley and I had and I wont 402 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: to Charlie Connelly award two times when I was at 403 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 1: Old Miss for the best you know football player in 404 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: the state of Mississippi, and had a relationship with friendship 405 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,679 Speaker 1: with with his wife, Perry Anne Connery, who just just 406 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: passed away a few months ago. And so I think, 407 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: you know, my dad always kind of knew about the 408 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: New York Giants, you know, growing up, and it's one 409 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: of his dad's favorite teams because of Charlie Connorley. But um, 410 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: you know it just kind of didn't know all those 411 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: things really until a little bit later, really until I 412 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: got to the Giants and got to talk to you 413 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 1: know him about that and here's sort of the stories 414 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 1: and and learned a little bit more about Charlie connor 415 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: Y and kind of his his uh you know, his 416 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: playing career with the Giants. Last one here push works 417 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: a like congratulations, um um. When when you this is 418 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: after all, a a Jersey retirement celebration, um um. All 419 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: those years when you saw all the Tens out there, 420 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: you know, you see him in parks and any malls 421 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: and certainly at the game, what were you thinking then 422 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: and what do you thought was her obligation to the 423 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: people wearing the Tens? And now when you still see 424 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: them when you go out. I'm sure there's still a 425 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: lot of them out there. Um, what do you think 426 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: you'll think about now knowing that there's a ten there 427 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: but no one else will ever wear that again. Um, 428 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: you know, it's just it's just, uh, such a such 429 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: a tremendous honor, and I'm just honored, and I'm kind 430 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: of speechless about it, you know, thinking about, um, that 431 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: scenario and and the fact that that's happening. It was 432 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: kind of never uh never the thought you know, that 433 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: was you know what I when I started my first game, 434 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 1: you know, seventeen years ago versus the Falcons. You know, 435 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: it was not the thought that, hey, Jersey is definitely 436 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: getting retired with the New York Giants. You know, I 437 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: got this thing figured out, and so it's just surreal. 438 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: And to go there and to you know, travel of 439 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: the game that week one and see Giants number ten jerseys. 440 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 1: You know, I you know, always as I was driving in, 441 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: always see a couple you know, other friends and teammates 442 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: jerseys still around. I take a picture and send it 443 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: to him. If I see a number sixty or a 444 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: number fifty one and Dias or you know, Chris Mee 445 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: and some of those guys are Brandon Jacobs, so they're 446 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: still you know, still still out there and still um 447 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 1: a lot of fans. So it's just a it's gonna 448 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 1: be special. It's gonna be a very emotional day and 449 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: kind of one last farewell to all those fans uh 450 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: wearing number ten and and all of them never supported 451 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: me during my time of the giants continue to support me, 452 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: and so I just appreciate their their loyalty and their 453 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: support through all these all these years