Peyton Manning born
On March 24 1976 Peyton Manning is born in New Orleans Louisiana to Archie and Olivia Manning.Archie had been a star quarterback for the University of Mississippi (1968-1970) and the New Orleans Saints (1971-1981).Peyton began his own football career at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans where he threw passes to his older brother Cooper a wide receiver.Ole Miss fans were shocked and dismayed when Manning rejected his fathers alma mater and instead headed after graduation for the University of Tennessee where he played under Coach Phillip Fulmer.
He graduated in three years and despite predictions that he would be the number-one pick in the NFL draft he returned to the Volunteers to try to win a national title in the 1997 season.Although his quest was ultimately unsuccessfulthe Vols finished the season with an 11-2 record and lost to Nebraska in the Orange BowlManning won nearly every award open to a college quarterback that year including the James E.Sullivan Award for the best amateur athlete in the country but he came in second in the Heisman Trophy voting to cornerback Charles Woodson of Michigan.In 1998 Manning was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick overall.
He started every game that year and had never missed a start in his pro career through the 2006 season.Popular with fans and well-known for both his on-the-field play-calling and his witty product endorsements Manning proved himself a top NFL quarterback in his first five seasons.In 2004 he broke Dan Marinos seemingly unbreakable record of 48 touchdowns in a season with 49 of his own.
Manning led the Colts to the AFC Championship that season but both he and the team had a dismal showing losing to the Patriots in Foxborough for the second year in a row.In 2005 Manning seemed to rebound leading the Colts to a 13-0 regular-season start.Again though Manning disappointed in the postseason and again the Colts lost the AFC Championship this time at home to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Though he had been named the NFLs Most Valuable Player twice pundits began to accuse Manning of being soft in the post-season and questioned his ability to win big games.In 2006 the Colts started fast again with nine consecutive wins but slipped into a funk finishing the season with a 12-4 record.After beating Kansas City at home in the first round of the playoffs the Colts upset the Ravens in Baltimore in the divisional series.In the AFC title game Manning led the Colts back from a 21-3 deficit finally beating the New England Patriotsled by Mannings friend quarterback Tom Brady38-34 in one of the most exciting conference championships in NFL history.In Super Bowl XLI on February 4 2007 the Colts defeated the Bears 29-17 and Manning was named Super Bowl MVP.
It was the first Super Bowl title for any Manning quarterback. Peyton would go on to earn two Super Bowl titles before announcing his retirement in March 2016.
