Eli Manning Praises Nephew Arch Manning for How He ‘Hung in There’ in Loss (Exclusive)

Eli Manning is “proud” of his nephew Arch Manning.

The two-time Super Bowl champion talked to PEOPLE about his nephew’s big debut as the starting quarterback for Texas, and how the 21-year-old “hung in there” during the team’s14-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, Aug. 30.

“Yeah, I watched the game and I’m just proud of the way he hung in there,” Eli, 44, says of Arch, while speaking to PEOPLE about his latest partnership with The Athletic for their game Connections: Sports Edition.

Arch and the Longhorns were defeated on the Buckeyes’ home turf at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, which the retired New York Giants quarterback noted as an big obstacle for the team and the QB.

“Obviously, going to Ohio State and playing your first college football game on the road, not the easiest environment to start the season,” Eli explains. “But I’m proud… They got down a little bit, but he hung in there, got a touchdown drive, gave him a chance to win in the fourth quarter.”

Prior to this season, Arch served as the backup quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, starting just two times last season while Quinn Ewer was injured. He earned wins in both games, and took the reigns as QB1 this season.

Acknowledging that his nephew was going into just his third start, Eli tells PEOPLE that “your first eight starts in college football are about learning how to navigate playing quarterback at a big-time level,” specifically the player dynamics on the team.

“Understanding the difference between a good defense and a bad defense, and how you have to play,” he explains, adding, “And the receivers aren’t as open and what’s open and making decisions, so all these things… Each week, he’s going to learn so much in this upcoming season.”

The retired football legend, who says he’s “excited about the way [Arch] has handled this environment,” shares a piece of wisdom about losing and how to evolve it into a win.

“You’re going to have great games, you’re going to have tough games,” he says, adding, “And it’s about just figuring out ways to try to put your team in a situation to win in fourth quarters and that’s what he’s learning.”

“Whether you played your best game of your life or you had a tough one, how are you going to make improvements? And after each week, getting back to work,” he continues of Arch. “We always kind of said, ‘Hey, treat each week like you lost the week before.’ ”

“I think that’s his mindset and I’m just proud of him on how he’s handled these circumstances,” says the former NFL pro, adding, “And I look forward to watching him the rest of the season, of course.”

Arch’s start as QB was highly anticipated, with him often touted as the most promising from a long line of legendary NFL quarterbacks in his family. The college player is the son of Cooper Manning, brother of multi-time Super Bowl winners Eli and Peyton Manning, and the grandson of Archie Manning.

“I’m proud of how he’s handled everything. He’s had the spotlight on him since he was 14 years old and a lot of expectations,” Eli told PEOPLE of his nephew. “That’s something you don’t ask for, but you got to deal with it, and I think he’s dealt with that very well.”

“And I think as you get into football, you’ll have to learn that it’s all about self-analysis,” he continued. “You got to watch the games, you got to be hard on yourself, you got to watch every practice, watch every game, and get better.”

Physical football aside, Eli’s dialed in on the NYT and The Athletic puzzle games himself — and is especially “excited” about the Connections: Sports Edition, which features 32 team-specific puzzles that allow fans to flex their sports knowledge on history, iconic players and defining moments.

“I think it’s a great way to kick off the NFL season and everything going on and get fans excited about their upcoming team and challenge them,” he shares. “I had a lot of fun doing the New York Giants Connections the other day!”

Arch and the Texas Longhorns next take on the San Jose State Spartans at home on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The game will be played at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Texas.