Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, a former American football quarterback, spent 18 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Indianapolis Colts. Notably, he played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he led the team to victory in the 1997 SEC Championship Game and was honored with several awards, including the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award. As the first overall selection in the 1998 NFL draft, Manning commenced his professional career with the Colts, contributing significantly to the team's success, including 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, and two Super Bowl appearances.

Manning's tenure with the Colts was marked with numerous achievements, including his first Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLI, where he was also named the Super Bowl MVP. Despite a career-threatening neck surgery, Manning continued his professional journey with the Denver Broncos, leading the team to two Super Bowl appearances and securing his second Super Bowl win in Super Bowl 50. Throughout his career, Manning set several NFL records, including most MVP awards, quarterback first-team All-Pro selections, and single-season passing yards and touchdowns.

Given his remarkable contributions to the sport, Manning was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. His philanthropic efforts have also been recognized, as he founded the Peyback Foundation and volunteered after Hurricane Katrina.

Off the field, Manning has made his mark as well, appearing in commercials and participating in voice acting work. He's the host of "Peyton's Places," a documentary series about football on ESPN+, and a host of the revival of the quiz show "College Bowl." Additionally, he hosts the "Manningcast" on ESPN2 and ESPN+ with his brother, Eli Manning. In 2023, it was announced Manning would join his alma mater, Tennessee, as a professor in the College of Communication and Information.