Over the weekend, a rare event brought together two unrelated professional teams sharing the Giants name, as San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb met with New York Giants legend and ESPN broadcaster Eli Manning in New York. This meeting, orchestrated while the San Francisco Giants were on a road trip against the New York Mets, gave Manning the opportunity to analyze Webb’s high school quarterback highlights, making for an unexpected crossover moment.
The idea of the two teams meeting had been a long-standing question, famously posed by Dan in Warwick, an often-heard caller on The Mike Francesa Show dating back to 2015. Despite the teams’ lack of any connection, Dan’s sincere query about a possible encounter became one of the show’s memorable moments. The recent meetup, reportedly coordinated by the New York Giants’ marketing team, finally actualized this humorous doubt.
A Playful Gathering Featuring Key Representatives
The staged meetup was captured in a social media video where Mike Francesa unexpectedly walked into a setting featuring notable players from both teams. Representing the New York Giants were Eli Manning and Shaun O’Hara, while Logan Webb and Matt Chapman stood for the San Francisco Giants. The video also served to promote the upcoming fifth season of The Eli Manning Show on the Giants’ official website.
Though largely lighthearted in tone, the encounter offered a genuine moment of sports insight as Webb shared footage from his days as a high school quarterback at Rocklin High School in Rocklin, California. Manning, well known for his detailed analyses on the ESPN “Manningcast” during Monday Night Football, approached Webb’s footage with his characteristic breakdown style, providing thoughtful observations.
Eli Manning’s Detailed Analysis of Webb’s Quarterback Technique
Examining Webb’s high school film, Manning highlighted specific plays with interest, commenting on Webb’s style and decisions. Manning remarked on a variety of key moments, describing a bootleg play and passing routes with close attention to technique and execution.
Oh, here is a little bootleg,
said Manning.
A little naked bootleg right there, hit the tight end in the flat. That looked good. Do you ever throw it down the field, more than like four yards? Oh, here is a little go route. How did that guy get so open? We gotta rewind that one. Oh, here is a shotgun, some pocket movement rolling out on the right. That looked pretty good.
—Eli Manning, ESPN Broadcaster
Manning’s commentary showed his typical attention to quarterback fundamentals, from route recognition to throwing mechanics. However, an intriguing critique followed as Manning addressed the discrepancy between Webb’s pitching velocity and his quarterback arm strength.
Comparing Webb’s Baseball Pitch and Football Throws
Manning questioned Webb about his throwing speed as a baseball pitcher and then contrasted it with his ability to launch the football downfield, a comparison that underscores the different demands of each sport. Webb’s response confirmed his fastball speed, but Manning remained puzzled about the shorter passing range football required from him.
How fast can you throw your fastball?
asked Manning.
It’s like 92-94, replied Webb.
And yet you can only throw a ball 25 yards down the field?
added Manning.
I don’t get it. I think you made the right option to stick with baseball. It was worth the six years in the minors.
—Eli Manning, ESPN Broadcaster
This exchange highlighted the unique physical skills necessary for the two sports, explaining why Webb ultimately chose to focus on baseball, where his arm strength proved more valuable. Manning’s critique was not only a playful jab but also an acknowledgment of the challenges involved in excelling across different athletic roles.
Webb’s Success Validates Decision to Pursue Baseball
Logan Webb’s career has flourished since making the decision to commit fully to baseball. Now a two-time All-Star by 2025, Webb continues to impress with his pitching performance for the San Francisco Giants. His ongoing success affirms Manning’s assessment that sticking to baseball was the right choice, despite the talent he once showed as a high school quarterback.
This rare interaction between two distinct Giants organizations provided entertaining insight into Webb’s athletic background while connecting fans from both football and baseball worlds. The crossover event not only added a unique angle to the ongoing promotion for The Eli Manning Show but also offered a compelling look at the intersections between different sports and athletes’ journeys.