When NFL stars reflect on their careers, it's often the big moments—Super Bowls, awards, game-winning drives—that grab the spotlight. But for Matt Leinart, a quiet conversation behind the scenes almost changed the trajectory of his football life. And it involved one of the NFL’s most iconic teams at the time: the New York Football Giants.
Yep, Matt Leinart, the Heisman-winning, left-handed quarterback out of USC, was this close to becoming Eli Manning’s backup. This wasn’t some casual locker room gossip either—there were real talks between the Arizona Cardinals and the Giants to make the move happen.
Let’s rewind a bit to 2010. The Giants were only three years removed from one of the greatest upsets in NFL history—beating the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. With Eli Manning firmly planted as QB1, the team found itself scrambling for a reliable backup after losing veteran David Carr to the San Francisco 49ers.
So what did the Giants do? They brought in Sage Rosenfels. Solid, experienced, but certainly not the flashiest name available. But that wasn’t their only move in the playbook. Behind closed doors, another scenario was unfolding—one that involved Matt Leinart quietly preparing for a new uniform.
📺 "Throwbacks" Drops the Scoop
The real tea was spilled on an episode of Throwbacks, the podcast hosted by former USC quarterback Matt Leinart and actor Jerry Ferrara. During the episode, Leinart revealed the juicy behind-the-scenes talk that never made the sports headlines:
"They were trying to trade me to the New York Football Giants... to back up Eli," Leinart casually dropped during the show.
Hold up—Matt Leinart in blue? That would’ve been a wild shift. He continued:
"I ended up getting cut, and I signed with the Texans like three days later. That's when I went to Houston."
So what happened? According to Leinart, head coach Ken Whisenhunt had been in conversations with the Giants about potentially moving him. But in a twist, Leinart preferred to be released rather than traded—he wanted the freedom to choose his next step. That’s exactly what he got.
And the Giants? Well, they stuck with Rosenfels and added Jim Sorgi to the mix. Eventually, they brought David Carr back in 2011. That decision didn’t turn out too bad—Carr backed up Manning during yet another Super Bowl run where the Giants again knocked off Tom Brady’s Patriots in epic fashion.
🏈 So What Could've Been?
Let’s dream for a second: What if Matt Leinart had ended up in New York?
Sure, he wouldn’t have replaced Eli Manning, but backing up a franchise quarterback in a massive media market like NYC could’ve been career-defining. Leinart had the college pedigree, the first-round draft status, and the tools—he just never quite put it all together in Arizona.
If he had landed in the Giants’ system, working behind the unflappable Manning under a steady coaching regime, who knows what might’ve unfolded? Could he have reinvented himself as a long-term backup like Chase Daniel or Ryan Fitzpatrick? Could he have stepped in during an injury and had a Nick Foles-type moment? That Giants roster wasn’t lacking in talent or opportunity.
But instead, Leinart headed to the Houston Texans—where, let’s face it, he was never in line to take the reins from Matt Schaub.
📊 Leinart’s Career by the Numbers
It’s easy to forget now, but there was real buzz around Leinart coming into the league. A first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, expectations were sky-high. He was supposed to be the guy in Arizona. And for a while, it seemed like it might work.
Here’s how his NFL resume stacked up:
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Games Played: 33
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Games Started: 18
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Completion Rate: 57.1%
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Passing Yards: 4,065
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Touchdowns: 15
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Interceptions: 21
Those stats aren’t terrible, but they never matched the hype that came with his draft status. After two seasons in Houston, he played a single year with the Raiders, then wrapped things up in Buffalo in 2013. It was a quiet exit for a guy who once lit up the Rose Bowl like a Roman candle.
🧠 Behind the Business Side of Football
Leinart’s story is a reminder of how the NFL isn’t just about what happens on the field. Off-field decisions, team needs, trade talks, and player preferences all intertwine in ways fans rarely see.
Think about it: The Giants wanted a backup. Leinart was available. The trade talks were real. But the deal didn’t go through because Leinart had a different vision for his career—and it’s hard to blame him. Being traded means having no say in your destination. Being released? That’s freedom.
And in 2010, Leinart chose freedom. He wanted to pick his next stop rather than be sent somewhere he wasn’t sold on.
🏆 The Giants Got the Last Laugh (Sort Of)
Ironically, by not getting Leinart, the Giants may have made the right call in the long run. The backup carousel landed back on David Carr in 2011, and that season ended with confetti in Indianapolis. Another Super Bowl. Another win over Brady. Another parade.
Would things have turned out differently if Leinart was in the QB room? Maybe. Maybe not. But sometimes, the moves you don’t make are just as crucial as the ones you do.
Final Thoughts 💭
NFL careers are full of fork-in-the-road moments. Matt Leinart's "almost" trade to the New York Giants is one of those fascinating what-ifs. A move that never happened—but could have rewritten chapters of not just one, but two franchises' stories.
Leinart might not have worn blue in MetLife Stadium, but the story itself shows how close the NFL world really is—just one phone call, one coach’s decision, or one player's preference away from a totally different future.
So the next time you see a quarterback kneeling on the sidelines, clipboard in hand, just remember: that could’ve been Matt Leinart. Almost was. Almost.
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