There’s no other way to explain it: Peyton Manning was born with football in his blood.
He nows prepares to lead the Denver Broncos into their first Superbowl in 17 years. They face the Carolina Panthers, a team that has only suffered one loss in their last 19 games. Their quarterback, Cam Newton, is 13 years younger than Manning.
If you think those stats are going to decide the victor, you’re out of your mind.
TRUE GRIT
Even before he knew he wanted to be a professional football player, Manning displayed the determination that would make him one of the best players the NFL had ever seen.
Born with a cleft palette – a condition where a gap forms in the roof of the mouth due to a deformity in the bones – Manning’s early life was one spent mostly in the dentist chair than on the field. In order to ensure his teeth would grow properly, he undertook several surgeries, and had to wear braces for a decade. As was often the case with children of his age, Manning was bullied as a result, but he rallied through it.
Manning’s grit was inherited from his father, footballer Archie Manning. A quarterback (QB) for the New Orleans Saints, Archie started his 13-year career with the worst-ever stats for a starter QB, but even after a shoulder injury that saw him unable to play for a year, retired as the 17th best QB in NFL history.
While Archie never pushed his three sons – Cooper, Peyton, and Eli – towards professional sports, he was always on hand to encourage them as they experimented with basketball, baseball, and football.
It was football that all three eventually turned their attention to. Cooper became an exceptional wide receiver, and was set to play at his father’s old school, the University of Mississippi, before being diagnosed with spinal stenosis. It was a career-ending condition.
LAUNCH OF A STAR
Manning was quick to follow in his brother’s footsteps, though he shined in his father’s position as a quarterback. Donning jersey #18 in honour of his brother, he lead his high school team to a 34-5 win record over three seasons. He was named player of the year in 1993, and was quick to garner the attention of colleges.
Surprising many, Manning chose to attend the University of Tennessee rather than his father’s alma mater. In the year he became starting QB, the team went on to win every game but one, including the prestigious Gator Bowl. By the time he had completed his degree, Manning had broken the college’s record for all-time passes and set the best win rate in the Southeastern conference.
ENTERING THE NFL
It was no surprise then that Manning was the #1 pick at the 1998 NFL draft, signing to the Indianapolis Colts, where he would spend the first 13 years of his career.
His rookie season was one of ups and downs. Winning only 3 of their 16 games for the year, the team suffered not only from a weak defensive line, but Manning’s league high 28 interceptions.
The result called to mind a report from a Sports Illustrated scouting report completed when Manning was still at Tennessee: “He may be a solid and productive NFL QB, but he may not have Hall of Fame type skills”. Was Indianapolis’s dream QB proving to be one of the most spectacular failures in recent memory?
It took Manning only a year to prove that wasn’t the case. In 1999, the Colts completed their season with a 13-3 record, a historical turnaround that marked the beginning of a 15-year effort to become the best QB off all time.
What stood out to many was Manning’s dedication to his work. Though he was casual, often jovial, off-field, Manning quipped “If people think I’m a laid-back guy, that’s their mistake”.
In 2003 he was named ESPY Player of the Year, while in 2004 (the same year his brother Eli joined the NFL for the New York Giants) his run was voted the second greatest passing season in history by ESPN audiences.
2006 was the year of Manning’s first Superbowl, where he lead the Colts to a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears.
OFF THE FIELD
Though Manning has become a superstar in every right, he has never forgotten the days he was a meagre, ill young boy, teased by bullies in a daily basis. It’s the reason he teamed up with the St Vincent’s Children’s Hospital, promoting their services and helping their fundraising endeavours. In 2007, the hospital recognised Manning’s enormous contribution by renaming themselves the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St Vincent.
Furthermore, the same year Manning joined the NFL, he established the PeyBack Foundation, providing support and resources for organisations dealing with disadvantaged youth in Louisiana, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. So far, the foundation has raised over $10 million.
Outside of charity, Manning is well known as a celebrity anomaly. Though his endorsement deals, worth $12 million per year, see him appearing on U.S. television screens daily, little is known about his private life. As such, Manning has become an example of good conduct for the NFL community, something it desperately needs in the wake of mounting allegations of rape and abuse against other players. If the culture of the game is going to change, it’s people like Manning who are going to change it.
TWILIGHT
As Manning nears what many assume will be the end of career following his second Superbowl, Superbowl 50, he stands as a shining example of perseverance and passion for one’s craft not just for NFL-fans, but to everyone who desires to fulfil their dreams.
When Manning suffered a neck injury at 35, experts proclaimed that it would be the precursor of his retirement. However, Manning knew he had work left to do, and in the following years, as part of the Denver Broncos, broke the records for most career touchdowns (currently standing at 539) and all-time passing yardage (71, 940). They are only two examples of the achievements noted in the annals of NFL history with Manning’s name beside them, and even in the wake of a new generation, most are expected to stand for a long, long time.
Still, the signs of age are showing. A fantastic article by ESPN details the 15 excruciating minutes it takes for Manning to remove his gear after a game, yet goes on to prove that no matter how his body feels after a game, Manning’s career is only done when he says it’s done.
On Feburary 7th, the Denver Broncos will line up against the Carolina Panthers to decide who is the champion of the 2015-2016 season. Don’t be surprised if Manning’s arm, and the wits behind it, prove to be the deciding factors.