Five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning will announce his retirement after 18 years during a news conference Monday at the Denver Broncos headquarters, a source familiar with the quarterback’s decision told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
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Manning, who turns 40 on 24 March, played his last game when he helped the Broncos win the Super Bowl in February. “I revere football, I love the game, so you don’t have to wonder if I’ll miss it, absolutely”.
He was widely expected to retire after a less than average season 2015-16, where he performed below par and missed several weeks with injury.
Manning was beyond terrible last season all the way up to Super Bowl 50 when he posted the fourth-worst passer rating (56.6) among winning quarterbacks.
Chosen as the first overall draft pick in 1998, he was also one of the NFL’s most telegenic players, a regular television presence pitching cars, pizza, insurance and other products, and a favourite with the sports media for much of his career.
Manning said he looked forward to the next chapter in his life, although he didn’t specify what he might do.
Manning started off his retirement remarks talking about another gunslinger, former Baltimore Colts star Johnny Unitas.
Manning talked about how his hometown of New Orleans has supported him and his time at the University of Tennessee, with the Indianapolis Colts and with the Denver Broncos. His teams made the playoffs in 15 of his 18 seasons, and he reached the 4,000-yard passing mark in 14 seasons.
“He did revolutionize the game with what he was able to do pre-snap”, Elway said. Eighteen is a good number.
And just because Manning is retiring from playing doesn’t necessarily mean he’s done with football.
Manning retired as the National Football League leader in nearly every conceivable quarterback category, and various infographics have floated around touting those statistics. “I cherished my time in Knoxville, especially my senior year”.
“I’m going to miss a steak dinner at St. Elmos in Indianapolis after a win, my battles with players named Lynch, Lewis, Thomas, Bruschi and Reed…I’ll miss figuring out blitzes with Jeff Saturday, Demaryius Thomas thanking me for coming to Denver after every touchdown I threw to him”.
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“I’ve said this a lot of times to people, he didn’t get better each game”. Ahead of the 2011 season, Manning underwent neck surgery, but later needed spinal fusion surgery.
