New York Giants QBs Manning, Jones Practice With Westhampton Beach Football Players

Nolan Michalowski received a text message from his varsity football coach late Saturday night and could not believe his eyes. Not only was former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning returning to Westhampton Beach’s football field for the first time since he retired in 2020, the two-time Super Bowl champion was bringing current starting quarterback Daniel Jones with him.

“Initially, I thought to myself, ‘There is no way this is happening,’” the rising senior said, beaming. “I knew in the past that Eli would stop by and train, but when my coach told us that Daniel was with Eli, we were all blown away.”

After Manning reached out to head coach Bryan Schaumloffel, a plan was swiftly made for the two NFL stars to visit early the next morning, and the Hurricanes were even quicker to clear their schedules.

“I canceled all my plans,” Michalowski said. “There was no hesitation at all.”

Kevin Smith, who had been sleeping at a friend’s house that night, said he set multiple alarms to ensure he was up and ready to go.

“I was very excited to have the chance to throw and hang out with Daniel and Eli, and knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but I was nervous,” the senior wide receiver said, laughing. “I didn’t want to underperform or play bad in any way.”

Jones ran routes with the players, and he and Manning each presented the high school athletes with feedback and guidance.

“We did a drill while Daniel was warming up that worked on us staying in-bounds when receiving a pass and being near the sideline,” said Smith, who added he got more comfortable after Jones’s first few tosses. “It was very cool to receive the ball from an NFL quarterback. Every pass was perfect.”

Senior quarterback Will Gambino said he learned a lot not just about skill and form, but where his eyes should be when reading the defense, and was gobsmacked by the compliments he received.

“Having two NFL quarterbacks say that I threw a good ball or had good footwork on a certain rep was extremely cool,” he said. “Everyone always spoke about Eli coming down to Westhampton, but I never thought it would happen. I’m very thankful that he values our community and continues to support our program. It shows that they are genuinely good people. For me, it was an experience of a lifetime.”

But it also isn’t his first time the quarterback has received some pointers from a pro. Gambino’s cousin, Garrett Graham, was a tight end for the Houston Texans.

“I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like, but he is a huge inspiration to me,” the senior said. “He watches my film every year and lets me know what to work on and what looks good. I’m very thankful for the connections I’ve made and the blessings that have come my way.”

Schaumloffel said he was elated seeing his student-athletes’ faces light up at the opportunity, and called Manning a class act, adding he’s always personable with his players.

“We really appreciate him — we have a great relationship with him — and he’s been a great friend to our program,” the coach said. “When he visited before his retirement, it really was a workout for him, so he was all business when he was throwing. Coming back this past weekend, he was more laid back and had great interactions with our guys. And Daniel Jones throwing with them just added to it.”

Gambino said he and many of his teammates gathered together at the school well before the 9 a.m. start time in anticipation.

“They are both extremely knowledgeable of the game of football, and it was great to just be in their presence,” the quarterback added. “It is something I will never forget.”

Manning first began visiting the school eight years ago, and Schaumloffel said the district will continue to welcome him and Jones back with open arms if he’s ever interested in future workouts.

“Eli has had a lot of interactions with our players and gave our kids great experiences that I would assume not many high school players across the country have gotten the opportunity to have,” the coach said, highlighting not just the practice, but now the insight Manning has been able to impart. “And if Daniel summers out here, we’re always here for him.”

Gambino attested to how the workout brought him and his Hurricanes closer together.

“Experiencing this with some of the them definitely got us more excited for the season,” he said. “The game of football brings people together and helps make lifelong connections. I think my teammates and I can say we all love being a part of this team. It was an incredible moment for us, and we can’t thank them enough for coming out.”

Michalowski said the visit was one he always dreamed of, and one he won’t soon forget.

“My friends have talked about their experiences all the time, and I had always hoped I would have that same experience some day,” the senior said. “They were really helpful, and even said they’re always following our seasons and love seeing us succeed. This definitely gets us ready and excited, and provides some extra motivation for the guys this season.”