Eli Manning spent 16 seasons staring down some of the NFL’s most intimidating defensive players. But apparently, a largemouth bass is where he draws the line.
At least, that’s what Eric Church would have you believe.
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The country music superstar recently welcomed Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss to his private fishing property outside Nashville for an episode of Moss’ YouTube series, “Chasing 10.” And somewhere between catching bass and swapping stories, Church decided to have a little fun at the expense of another former NFL star who had visited his lake.
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Eric Church took Eli Manning fishing on his private property in Nashville. (Getty Images)
“I brought Eli here about six months ago. He came fishing with me here,” Church said.
When Moss asked how Manning had done on the water, Church revealed that the two-time Super Bowl champion apparently wasn’t too eager to get his hands on the fish.
“I think Eli’s scared to hold ’em,” he said. “I had to hold the fish for him.”
“Hold on, hold on. You talking about one of the Manning brothers?” Moss asked, making sure he’d heard that correctly.
Church confirmed it was Eli, prompting Moss to respond, “Eli, man. Come on, Eli.”
NFC coach Eli Manning looks on during the NFL Pro Bowl Skills Competition at the UCF Nicholson Fieldhouse in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports)
But Church wasn’t finished roasting his fishing buddy.
“I held them all for him,” he continued. “It’s kind of like you do with your kid. You catch them and hand them to him and say, ‘Here, y’all take a picture.'”
Man, that’s embarrassing. But since Eli wasn’t there to defend himself, we’ll take Church’s accusations with a grain of salt.
Although, it’s worth noting that Church chose to share this particular story with a guy who was on the losing end of Manning’s first Super Bowl victory. Moss was a member of the previously undefeated New England Patriots team that Manning and the New York Giants stunned in Super Bowl XLII.
Fortunately for Moss, his own fishing trip with Church went considerably better.
Eric Church owns a bass fishing paradise hidden just outside Nashville
The country singer’s sprawling 1,600-acre property sits just 15 minutes outside downtown Nashville and features multiple lakes loaded with largemouth bass. Church revealed that he’s caught four bass weighing at least 10 pounds in those waters, including a personal best of 11.2 pounds.
And the fish certainly weren’t shy that morning. Church landed a 6.7-pound largemouth early in the outing, and the two continued catching fish throughout the day, including another hefty bass they estimated at nearly 8 pounds.
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They never managed to land the double-digit monster they were hoping for, but Moss has already checked that milestone off his fishing bucket list. The former NFL receiver previously caught a 10-pound bass on “Chasing 10,” a series that takes him around the country fishing with fellow athletes and celebrities.
Randy Moss is an avid outdoorsman and bass fisherman. (Amber Harding Snyder)
The show also supports the Children’s Cancer Research Fund, with the boat used throughout the series set to be raffled off to benefit the organization.
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As for Eli Manning, perhaps Church should invite him back for another round. You know, to redeem himself.
After all, if you can survive 16 years of 250-pound linebackers trying to take your head off, surely you can muster up the courage to hold a fish.
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