Lionel Manuel Biography

Lionel Manuel Jr. was born on April 13, 1962, and played as a wide receiver in the National Football League. He played college football for the Pacific Tigers before entering the NFL draft. Selected in the seventh round with the 171st overall pick in 1984, he played seven seasons in the NFL. Manuel spent his entire professional career with the New York Giants from 1984 to 1990, including the team that defeated the Denver Broncos 39–20 in Super Bowl XXI. After his NFL career, he coached at the collegiate level, including for The LaVerne Leopards, and later became a professional chef. He also served as a high school varsity football coach in Fontana, California. In 2012, he was inducted into the University of the Pacific Hall of Fame.