TMZSports.com
If Eli Manning needs some advice on how to handle a Hall of Fame slight — Antonio Gates is offering it up!
The legendary Charger — who was inducted into the 2025 class last week after being snubbed for the 2024 one just 12 months ago — told TMZ Sports out at the Super Bowl in New Orleans that while he’s sure Eli’s feeling heartbreak right now … the former signal-caller just needs to stay positive.
Gates told us that after he was shockingly barred from getting a bust in Canton … he headed into the ensuing year focused on being “the best version of me” — and he thinks that attitude helped him get in this go-around.
Gates also said leaning on his faith certainly didn’t hurt, either.
Fortunately for Manning, it seems he’s already put some of the ex-tight end’s guidance into practice … because when we caught up with him on Bourbon Street just hours after the ’25 class was revealed, he didn’t seem to be sweating things one bit.
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Eli, of course, will have another go at things in 2026 … and while the competition is stiff — Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten and Drew Brees will all be eligible then — Gates and a host of others sure appear to think he’s in line to get the happy call.
