It was this way in the summer of 2004 for Archie and Olivia Manning, their boy Eli making his Giants preseason debut and realizing a lifelong dream.

This time it will be Becca and Steve Jones in the stands watching their boy Daniel for the first time realizing his lifelong dream as a New York Giant.

“We can’t wait. … We cannot wait to see him take the field,” Becca Jones told The Post from Charlotte, N.C. “We know he’s going be prepared, we know he’s going to be ready. And we’re just thrilled to see him become a part of this amazing opportunity with the Giants organization.”

From Pop Warner to Charlotte Latin School to Duke to the New York Football Giants.

“So much has gone into this. … On one hand this has been the custom for Daniel, he takes the field, and it’s a step up from the year before,” Becca Jones said. “But obviously this is far above any other year — this is the top. We’re just thrilled that he’s getting the chance to have a career in football. It should be fun — and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

This was the dream by the third grade.

“I think it was his third grade journal from school, where one of his entries was, ‘I hope to be a quarterback in the NFL,’ ” she recalled. “Of course, he was a small boy at that point. So, from a very early age, he’s had his sights set on this. It’s been great to watch him stay committed and grow into it with a lot hard work and a lot of help from a lot of people. Coaches, teachers and all kinds of friends and community support. He’s worked hard and made generally good decisions — but a lot of people have helped him get to where he is and I think he knows this and genuinely appreciates it.”

Mother knows best what makes her oldest son, the second of four children, tick, what drives Daniel Jones.

“I think he is committed to do the best job he can do,” she said, “And he truly believes he can get better every day. That’s it — the desire to get better. That’s not just limited to football, I think that’s sort of Daniel overall. He would kid me when I would say in the morning, ‘Daniel, what are you going do today?’ He’d say, ‘I’m gonna get better, mom, I’m gonna get better.’ But, I always had the feeling that he was only half joking and at least somewhat really intended to do that, get better.”

Daniel Jones wanted to play in the New York market. Wanted to be a New York Giant. I asked Becca Jones why her son will be able to handle New York.

“Because he knows who he is,” she said. “He’s grounded, I think. He cares somewhat [what they say] if he listens. … We’re all human. But, at the end of the day, I think he’s good at tuning out noise and knows he can objectively decide for himself how he believes he’s doing. Especially in the context of football.”

I told Becca Jones that her gentleman son has drawn comparisons — on the field and off — to Manning.

“I haven’t met Eli yet,” she said, “but from what I’ve heard of him, and what Daniel has said, Eli is an exceptionally good guy — and a great teammate.”

It will be her son who has been chosen one day to replace a legend.

“He’s always gotten himself ready for that next step,” Becca Jones said. “And he always had the ‘want to.’ It’s always been fun for him, for the most part anyway — and it will continue to be fun for him I expect. The boy loves football — and all that goes with it.”

So, now it’s showtime for Daniel Jones.

Time for him to begin showing us why Giants GM Dave Gettleman has chosen him as Manning’s would-be successor.

Time for him to show Giants fans why they can believe in Life After Eli Manning.

Time for him to make Becca and Steve Jones proud once again.