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New York Giants News: Russell Wilson Needs 17 Passing Touchdowns to Surpass Eli Manning in 2025 Season

Samnur Reza
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) shakes hands with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) after a game at MetLife Stadium.

The 2025 season might just be Russell Wilson’s last real shot at staying relevant in the NFL. He had a similar prove-it opportunity in Pittsburgh last year, but that stint was forgettable at best. Sure, he helped the team reach the playoffs, but let’s be honest, Mike Tomlin did the same with Kenny Pickett. So… not exactly a flex, Russell.

Now at 36, Wilson will need to somehow fix the Giants’ offensive struggles behind what PFF ranked as the 28th-best O-line. Malik Nabers is a promising target, sure, but Wilson had George Pickens last year, too — and we all saw how that went. So, expectations are… cautious.

That said, no matter how far Wilson goes this season, he’ll still get a shot at breaking an all-time record held by none other than Eli Manning. And he can do it in Eli’s old stomping grounds.

We’re, of course, talking about career passing touchdowns. Wilson already has more regular-season wins than Manning (121 to the retired QB’s 117), but now he can surpass Eli in passing TDs by throwing 17 more.

Sounds easy, right? Wrong. He’s already proven twice that he doesn’t mesh well in a new environment, throwing 16 TDs in Denver in 2022 — his first year there. Wilson hit the same mark last year in Steel City — also his first year. Yes, he played four fewer games in 2024, but who’s to say he’ll get to start every game in the Big Apple?

If the veteran QB struggles — which he likely will, given how things are shaping up — he could get replaced by Jaxson Dart or Jameis Winston, both waiting in the wings as hopeful alternatives.

In his 13-year-long career, Wilson (ranked 12th) has thrown 350 passing TDs. Meanwhile, Manning (ranked 11th) threw 366 scores over his 16-year career. But who sits at the top?

If it’s not obvious already, it’s Tom Brady. He threw 649 TDs over a 23-year career. Next come Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers, with 571, 539, 508, and 503 TDs, respectively.

That said, regardless of what lies ahead for Wilson, he’s already surpassed the younger Manning in many ways. He boasts a better completion percentage, a stronger TD-INT ratio, more rushing touchdowns, and more yards on the ground. He just needs one more Super Bowl to truly match or surpass Manning’s stature. But… in New York, that seems highly unlikely.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1000 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Demon's Souls. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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