Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is a retired American football quarterback best known for his 18-season career in the NFL, where he played for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Manning earned five NFL MVP awards, more than any other player, and led both franchises to multiple Super Bowl appearances. He is the only quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams, securing victories in Super Bowl XLI with the Colts and Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos. Over his career, Manning set several league records, including single-season passing touchdowns (55) and single-season passing yards (5,477). Known for his football intelligence and unmatched ability to read defenses, he helped transform both the Colts and Broncos into perennial contenders. Manning was named to 14 Pro Bowls and earned seven first-team All-Pro selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 and remains a prominent figure in the sport, often appearing as an analyst, commercial personality, and co-host of ESPN’s “ManningCast.” Manning’s on-field legacy continues to influence the quarterback position across the league.

Peyton Manning’s early life was shaped by football, discipline, and a competitive spirit that prepared him for stardom well before his NFL debut.

• Born on March 24, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Peyton is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning.
• He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, where he led the football team to a 34-5 record as starting quarterback.
• Manning wore jersey #18 in honor of his older brother Cooper, whose football career was cut short by spinal stenosis.
• As a high school senior in 1993, he was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and Columbus Touchdown Club National Offensive Player of the Year.
• He was one of the most highly recruited high school players in the country, receiving offers from around 60 colleges.
• Despite public pressure to follow his father to Ole Miss, he committed to the University of Tennessee in 1994.
• He became Tennessee’s all-time leading passer with 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns, winning 39 of 45 games as a starter.
• His first big break came as a freshman in 1994 when he became the Volunteers’ starting quarterback after an injury to Todd Helton.

Peyton Manning comes from a family deeply rooted in football, often referred to as the sport’s “royal family,” with each member playing a significant role in shaping his path to NFL stardom.

• His father, Archie Manning, is a former NFL quarterback who played 13 seasons, primarily with the New Orleans Saints.
• His mother, Olivia Manning (née Williams), has been a strong family support figure, known for maintaining stability in a football-driven household.
• His older brother, Cooper Manning, was a promising wide receiver whose football career ended due to spinal stenosis.
• His younger brother, Eli Manning, is a former NFL quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants.
• Peyton married Ashley Thompson, a University of Virginia graduate, on March 17, 2001. She is involved in real estate development and charity work.
• The couple has twins, a son named Marshall Williams and a daughter named Mosley Thompson, born on March 31, 2011.