Two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning has until the beginning of August to prepare his acceptance speech and make other plans related to his introduction to the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Realistically, of course, he could have started planning a day after his retirement after the 2015 NFL season.
Regardless, Manning has already revealed one of the details about his big day in Canton, Ohio.
Peyton Manning was an easy choice for the Hall of Fame
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Peyton Manning leads the 2021 class of professional football Hall of Fame nominees. Manning, who won the Super Bowls as a defender for the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, will join two others who were in their first year of eligibility, Green Bay Packers defender Charles Woodson and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson.
Completing the class of recent players are John Lynch, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos defender, now the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, and former Pittsburgh Steelers point guard Alan Faneca. Dallas Cowboys ex-wide receiver Drew Pearson, elected as senior holder, will also enter; former Steelers scout Bill Nunn, established in the category of contributors; and former Raiders and Seattle Seahawks coach Tom Flores.
Manning was five times an MVP and 14 times a Pro Bowl selection in the NFL. He finished with 539 touchdown passes in the regular season and another 40 in 27 playoff games. He spent 13 years with the Colts, missed the 2011 season while recovering from a neck injury and ended four seasons with the Broncos.
Peyton Manning was working on the phones
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The 48-person Professional Football Hall of Fame committee usually meets the day before the Super Bowl to determine who will be consecrated. Because of the pandemic, the timeline changed to mid-January, with the choices kept from the public until the eve of the Super Bowl.
However, David Baker, the salon’s president and CEO, began traveling around the country shortly after the meeting to notify the honorees personally, Yahoo Sports reported. Upon hearing the results of the vote, Peyton Manning began to reach out to thank the people who helped him along the way.
“I called John Elway,” said Manning, according to the Denver Broncos website. “I called Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre – just to let them know and say how grateful I am to be on the same team as them and for the role and impact they had on me, also (de) studying them or talk to me after a game, whatever. “
Naturally, Manning also warned family members and called to thank a handful of former teammates who included Von Miller, Reggie Wayne and Jeff Saturday.
“If you had to do all this alone and celebrate a victory alone or suffer a disappointing defeat, it just wouldn’t be worth it,” said Manning. “So the fact that I was able to do that and share it with so many people – family members, coaches, that kind of person, the fans – that was the best part.”
Archie Manning will have a role in Canton this summer
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Contacting Hall of Fame quarterbacks like John Elway and Brett Favre certainly made sense to Peyton Manning. But a retired quarterback stands out in his mind above all others: Daddy Archie Manning, a talented signalman who was unlucky enough to play on some of the worst NFL teams of all time.
Archie Manning will be the host when Peyton takes the stage in Canton in August for the consecration.
“My dad was my favorite player when I was growing up,” he said. “He was my favorite quarterback. He had the greatest influence of football on me, although he was never my coach. Collector football, knee football in the living room, backyard football. … He’s my favorite quarterback. He will introduce me, which is only appropriate because of the impact he has had on me. “
All statistics are courtesy of Professional football reference.