Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback out of the University of Tennessee, was drafted first overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He had an illustrious 18-year career as the quarterback for the Colts (1998-2011) and the Denver Broncos (2012-15), winning two Super Bowls and earning a victory against all 32 NFL franchises.

His career began with a bang – starting all 16 games as a rookie and setting NFL rookie records for completions (326), attempts (575), passing yards (3,739) and touchdown passes (26). His stats only improved from there. In 2004, Manning set the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes with 49.

In all, Manning made four Super Bowl appearances with four different head coaches. Following the 2006 regular season, Manning helped the Colts overcome a 21-3 deficit to defeat their AFC rival, New England Patriots, 38-34 and advance to Super Bowl XLI. In a heavy rain, he led the charge to his first Super Bowl victory, defeating the Chicago Bears and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Three years later, Manning and the Colts defeated the New York Jets 30-17 to win the 2009 AFC Championship and return to the Super Bowl stage.

Despite a severe neck injury that forced him to sit out the 2011 season, ending an NFL-record 208 consecutive starts to begin his career, Manning became one of the most sought-after free agents in NFL history. He signed with the Broncos in 2012 and was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pro selection at quarterback by the Associated Press. In his second season with the Broncos, Manning set NFL single-season records for passing yards (5,477) and touchdown passes (55) en route to leading Denver to an AFC Championship Game victory and appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII. His final act came during Super Bowl 50 as Manning guided the Broncos to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers to earn the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy in nearly two decades.

At the time of his retirement in 2015, Manning held numerous major NFL records, including passing yards (71,940), touchdown passes (539), fourth-quarter comebacks (43), game-winning drives (54), career wins as a starting quarterback (200, including playoffs), 4,000-plus-yard passing seasons (14) and consecutive seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes (13).

Manning earned Pro Bowl honors 14 times (1999-2000, 2002-2010, 2012-14), was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player five times (2003-2004, 2008-09, 2013), Associated Press first-team All-Pro at quarterback seven times (2003-05, 2008-09, 2012-13) and was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.