Certain expectations come with the Manning name, and even at just six years old, fans are already speculating about a football future for Eli Manning’s son, Charlie.
On Thursday, the former New York Giants star shared a heartwarming photo of himself with his youngest child, Charlie, on social media.
“My buddy is getting big,” Manning captioned the photo.
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This simple post quickly sparked a flurry of comments from fans, who began joking about Charlie potentially following in the family tradition of becoming a quarterback like his father Eli, uncle Peyton, grandpa Archie, and cousin Arch.
“Is he playing QB in the future?” one fan asked.
“How’s his spiral?” another inquired. “Good footwork?”
“Can he throw the ball 30 yards yet? If not, send him to his room without dinner,” a fan (hopefully) joked.
“Future Giant legend,” another fan declared confidently.
Two years ago, Manning playfully discussed with PEOPLE the possibility of training Charlie to follow in his footsteps. While he would be thrilled to see Charlie play football someday, Manning emphasized that he would “never force it upon him.”
“We’re doing a little knee football, or I’m on my knees and he’s, you know, running,” Manning shared in October 2022. “Trying to teach him ball security, those important things.”
Charlie is the youngest of Manning’s four children, with three older sisters: Ava, Lucy, and Caroline. Manning has spoken fondly about the joys and challenges of parenthood. Last year, he told Us Weekly that he’s “enjoying all the kids while they’re still young and still like me,” and he proudly discussed their varied athletic interests.
“We have a swimmer; we have lacrosse players. We have a hockey player. We have one that’s more into gymnastics and dance. So all doing a little bit of everything,” Manning said. “I’m an Uber driver, basically.”
Manning’s dedication to his family and his light-hearted approach to their athletic endeavors continue to endear him to fans, who eagerly anticipate whether young Charlie will one day add to the Manning legacy in football. For now, Charlie’s future remains wide open, with his dad providing guidance, support, and a touch of playful encouragement along the way.