Eli Manning wasn't voted into the Hall of Fame, but he joked about being instrumental in helping one of the new members earn pro football immortality.

Many thought New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning would be a first-ballot entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but once the 2025 class announcement concluded at the NFL Honors show on Thursday night,

Three of the 15 modern-era finalists made the Class of 2025: cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, and tight end Antonio Gates. (Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, the fourth member of the class, was a senior candidate after previously not getting in as a modern-era candidate.)