Before the 2004 NFL Draft, there was no question who would be the No. 1 overall pick. Eli Manning was the unanimous choice. This meant that the then-San Diego Chargers were going to land a franchise quarterback. It’s just, it didn’t happen that way.

Eventually, it became known that Manning did not want to play for a Chargers franchise that had missed the playoffs for eight consecutive years. Still, the spin at the time was that it was Eli’s father, former NFL QB Archie Manning, who made the power play to ensure that his son arrived at a more favorable destination.

However, now after 22 years Ellie has revealed business with boys Podcast that it wasn’t her father’s idea. It was actually Eli who had no interest in playing for the Chargers.

Manning said, “My parents weren’t really supportive. My father didn’t like the idea.” “Now, he came to my defense and supported me after everything went down, but he didn’t like it. And later, he bore the brunt of a lot of criticism because he came to my defense and people were saying, ‘Oh, you played in New Orleans all those years where you didn’t win, so you’re trying to dictate where your son is going to go.’ And he just bit his tongue and said, ‘Hey, this is what Eli wants to do and I support him’ and he did some media to try to save me from doing all the media and taking the hit.”

Manning said he did not feel like the Chargers were “most committed to winning at that time.”

The Chargers acquired an incredible asset by trading Manning to the New York Giants. In exchange for Manning, the Chargers received Philip Rivers, Shawn Merriman and Nate Kaeding. Meanwhile, Manning led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, and the rest is history.

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General manager Joe Hortiz recently completed his second draft with the Los Angeles Chargers. Hortiz added eight new players to head coach Jim Harbaugh’s roster during the three-day draft event, including Miami’s Akhim Messidor with the 22nd overall selection in the first round.

Not surprisingly, the Chargers placed a heavy emphasis on rebuilding in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Six of the team’s eight draft selections were either offensive linemen or defensive linemen. The other two were used at a wide receiver and a safety, but the team did not select any tight ends to compete with or pursue Oronde Gadsden and free agency arrival Charlie Kolar.

However, the Chargers have indicated a desire to boost their tight end room. On Monday, the Chargers will bring in former Cleveland Browns running back David Njoku for a workout.

Njoku’s contract with the Browns expired this offseason and the one-time Pro Bowler not surprisingly faced a strong market. Still only 29 years old, Njoku is coming off a poor season where he recorded only 293 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, Njoku posted a career-high 882-yard, six-touchdown campaign.

While he likely won’t return to his peak form with the Chargers, Njoku would give Justin Herbert another reliable weapon on a team that could use more playmakers.

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The Los Angeles Chargers are in a tough position in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Joe Hortiz took the No. 22 pick late in the first round, when almost everything becomes unpredictable. Although the Chargers front office has a solid idea of ​​which players could be first-round draft prospects, there is no way to know what the teams picking ahead of them will do when the time comes.

Additionally, the Chargers only have five overall selections in the three-day event starting on April 23. Still, the Chargers are assembling their draft board, and some players who meet specific requirements will certainly stand out on draft day. But who could it be?

Recently, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports predicted that two players who could become “surprise” selections by the Chargers at age 22 are offensive guards Emmanuel Pregnan and Chase Bissontis. Both are viewed as potential second-round picks, but as mentioned, the Chargers’ needs could push either prospect late into the first round.

“After Ioane, Emmanuel Pregnon and Chase Bissontis are neck-and-neck to finish as OG2, and both could fall in the bottom of the first round,” Pauline wrote. “The landing spot for both players is between the 26th and 38th selections, unless the Los Angeles Chargers surprise with the 22nd selection.”

The Chargers have already put Pregnon through an individual workout, and Poulin called him “definitely a Harbaugh-type blocker.” He added that the Chargers are also “taking a close look at Bisontis.”

After No. 22, the Chargers do not have any other draft selections until the 55th overall pick, when both Pregnon and Bisontis are expected to come off the board. Thus, if the Chargers really want to emerge from the draft with one of those two guards, they will have to reach up a bit, or possibly trade down a bit, to get more picks while still landing one of their top targets.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

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Despite an apparent career decline at age 37, future Hall of Famer and Kansas City Chiefs legend Travis Kelce will return for his 14th NFL season in 2026. The Athletic first broke the news on Sunday night. However, they also report that the free agent tight end is not guaranteed to return to the only franchise he has ever played for.

“It is not certain whether the team he plays for will be the head of the team. Kelce’s representatives are expected to speak to multiple teams,” the outlet reports.

With the 11-time Pro Bowler set to return next season, let’s take a look at seven teams he could land with in NFL free agency this month.

houston texans

The Houston Texans have a Super Bowl-caliber defense. However, their offense has held them back the past few seasons. They have a good quarterback in CJ Stroud, but they need more weapons. With $33 million in available cap space this offseason, according to Over the Cap, Kelce is a player who can make an impact while still staying in his price range. Don’t be surprised if Houston is a contender for a great finish to the month.

Seattle Seahawks

If Kelce is going to play in 2026, you can bet his goal will be to join a team with a legitimate shot at winning a championship next season. Well, the Seattle Seahawks are sure to be in contention again after winning their latest Super Bowl title last month.

Additionally, they have a good chunk of cap space this offseason and a clear need for more meaningful pass-game weapons to help take the load off star receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba.

los angeles chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have won 11 games and will have more than $90 million in cap space either way this offseason. In 2025, LA did not have a single receiver over 1,000 receiving yards. Kelce is unlikely to do it for them, but he will certainly draw attention and help a player like Ladd McConkey have an even better year in 2026.

The idea of ​​Kelce playing for the Bolts and taking passes from Justin Herbert would be a stab in the back for Chiefs fans, but we’ve seen franchise veterans play for the enemy before. The best example is Green Bay Packers icon Brett Favre who suited up for the hated Minnesota Vikings his last two seasons.

kansas city chiefs

Speaking of the Chiefs, it’s still very possible that Travis Kelce returns to Kansas City next season. He has freed up a good amount of cap space over the past few weeks and he would certainly command a discounted rate again to return for his final season.

If this is a transition season for the Chiefs as Patrick Mahomes returns from a torn ACL, Kelce being on a retirement tour could certainly lead to another disappointing year for KC.

New York Giants

Kelce will aim to be a contender in 2026. However, playing in New York and playing for a franchise like the New York Giants is always a draw for star players. Big Blue’s poor performance over the last three seasons should cause the future Hall of Famer to lose interest. However, there is a belief that the Giants could be much better in 2026 with new head coach John Harbaugh.

Young QB Jackson Darts needs more reliable weapons, and Kelce will definitely help. Offering his NFL swan song on New York’s big stage might have some appeal for the tight end if he doesn’t like the other offers he receives.

denver broncos

The Chargers may not be the only major foe that could come into play for Travis Kelce this offseason. If Bo Knicks had suited up in the AFC Championship Game, many NFL analysts believe the Denver Broncos would have defeated the New England Patriots. They therefore meet the criteria of being a serious title contender for next season.

Additionally, Evan Engram was a huge disappointment for Denver last season. If they sign Kelce, they could consider moving him, or go with an interesting and dangerous two-TE set in 2026.

Washington Commanders

One team hoping for a deep playoff run and salary cap space this offseason is the Washington Commanders. Additionally, tight end is expected to be a position they look to upgrade in the coming weeks.

After reaching the NFC Championship two seasons ago, fans saw how good Washington and star QB Jaden Daniels could be. Kelce could be one of the key offseason signings that gets the Commanders back into playoff contention this offseason.

retirement

It’s very possible that Kelce hits free agency and doesn’t love the options or offers he receives. He has been retired for the past few seasons, and does not need to keep playing as his acting career is growing rapidly and his new heights Podcasts are extremely popular. It wouldn’t be shocking if Kelce takes a look at the free agent market and decides retirement is a better option.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Two years into the Joe Hortiz-Jim Harbaugh regime, the Los Angeles Chargers have learned a lot about their team. After losing in the Wild Card playoffs after 11 consecutive winning seasons, the Chargers know where their strengths and weaknesses lie.

Soon, the Chargers will have a chance to address their team needs when free agency begins on March 9. His front office connections could help him land a potential three-time Pro Bowl center.

Recently, ESPN’s Chris Rimm reported that the Chargers could make “a push” to sign Tyler Linderbaum from the Baltimore Ravens when free agency begins.

By signing Linderbaum, the Chargers could get a proven solution for one of their biggest weaknesses. Still, is Linderbaum ready to depart Baltimore for Los Angeles? If he was a big John Harbaugh fan, playing for his brother Jim might have been the next best thing.

Or, perhaps he wants to stick around and see what his new offensive-minded head coach, Todd Monken, is able to do behind two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Either way, Linderbaum is expected to have more than just the Chargers and Ravens to consider for contract offers this offseason. We’ll have an answer soon when free agency starts.

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Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ