GaryVee on Jets fandom, social media advice, and sports collectibles

Executive overview

Gary Vaynerchuk joins Eli Manning and Shaun O'Hara on The Eli Manning Show to talk Jets football, social media strategy, and sports collectibles. He shares a lifelong Jets obsession — not a single snap missed since 1982 — and the childhood story behind it.

Passion and patience compound: Gary's Jets dream, his entrepreneurial identity, and his social media advice all trace back to the same principle — play the long game.

Jets fandom and Gary's origin story

• Jets fan since 1982 AFC Championship season — has not missed a single snap on TV or in person since
• Became a Jets fan by accident: a neighborhood kid told him to pick the Jets over the Giants when he moved to Edison, NJ
• His mother knitted him a Jets sweater (number 5) because the family couldn't afford a $25 jersey — it's his most prized possession
• Jets ownership has been his stated goal since sixth grade; he wrote it in a school yearbook
• Winning with the Yankees and Rangers diminished those fandoms for him; the climb matters more than the trophy
• Reps Jets players Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed through VaynerSports

On being a deep football fan

• Knows and tracks special teams players like gunners and returners, not just starters
• Values kickoff return specialists highly; credits Brad Smith's returns for the Jets' wins over the Steelers and Colts in the Rex Ryan era
• Personal relationships with players (through VaynerSports) make fandom more complex — he wanted Braxton Berrios to fail after he joined the Dolphins
• Considers Tony Adams, Chaz Sarat, and Gibson sleeper picks for the Jets–Giants game

NFL rule changes Gary would make as an owner

• Roughing the passer should be a reviewable play — the most subjective and fan-frustrating call in the game
• Quarterbacks should have input on whether to accept a roughing call — some would wave it off
• Kickoff returns should be preserved in some form; the league has gone too far in removing them
• Supports player safety improvements overall; acknowledges today's players are dramatically bigger and faster than previous eras

Social media advice for Eli Manning

• TikTok is the primary recommendation: it rewards humor, which suits Eli's personality
• LinkedIn has become a serious social network — ideal for Eli's business ambitions and entrepreneurship observations
• Twitter/X for real-time football commentary that surfaces what casual fans miss — wrong routes, blown coverages, secondary assignments
• The ex-player's edge on social is insider knowledge: explaining what actually happened on a play, not just what it looked like
• In-person events still matter; digital is a gateway to real-world connection, not a replacement

On leadership and stress absorption

• Gary's self-described greatest skill: absorbing stress and preventing it from cascading down to his team
• Eli identifies the same trait in himself — staying calm so the team doesn't amplify panic
• Both contrast this with the "fired-up pregame speech" style; Eli never felt a speech won a game
• Authentic leadership shows through consistency of action, not volume of words

Sports garage sale highlights

• Sugar Ray Leonard gloves caught Gary's eye first — underrated fighter obscured by his "pretty boy" image
• Sandy Koufax and Pete Maravich rookie cards on the table; Gary calls them gorgeous
• Original Boston Garden bench seat rated as the most valuable item alongside the Koufax rookie
• Gary has never worn Jordans — a lifelong Knicks fan boycott; wears Air Force Ones or Dunks instead