CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five games remained in the 2017 season when then-New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo benched two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning in favor of Geno Smith as losses mounted for a team with championship aspirations.
The decision to end a streak of 210 consecutive starts, at the time the second-longest in NFL history for a quarterback (behind Brett Favre) was described as shocking and awkward, since Manning wasn’t considered the problem. Fan reaction was strong.
There were reports the well-known Manning family was highly upset. Archie Manning told the “New York Daily News” his son was “heartbroken.