Peyton Manning, asked Wednesday night whether he had any desire to run an NFL franchise, said he’d rather stick to his “Monday Night Football” alternative broadcast on ESPN with brother Eli that just won its second Sports Emmy award.
“Eli and I really have a lot of fun doing the show. I think a big reason for that is I do it from here in Denver and he does it from New Jersey,” Manning said before being honored for his community work at a banquet. “I think we’re very happy about being able to do it and be home on the weekends and be home 10 minutes after the show.”
Manning said the “ManningCast” allows the brothers to “still be a part of our kids’ lives on the weekend.”
Manning and his wife, Ashley, have 13-year-old twins, Marshall and Mosley.
“Mosley plays volleyball, and I go to her games from like 4 to 5 on Mondays and I drive over to my buddy’s garage and get to call a ‘Monday Night Football’ game,” Manning said. “It doesn’t really make a lot of sense. And for some reason they’ve renewed us to do it.
“So, yeah, and this year we’re going to add Bill Belichick. Now, explain that. I was kind of wondering if I’ve been hit in the head too many times,” the Hall of Famer cracked. “He’s being courted by the other networks, and I was recruiting a guy that pretty much made a lot of my life miserable.”
Manning said he’s eager for the defensive perspective the former New England Patriots coach will bring.
“So, to have that different perspective on every game that Eli and I are doing this year I think will be awesome,” Manning said.
Manning made his comments to reporters ahead of receiving the 2024 Community Enrichment Award from the Mizel Institute in Denver.
“I’m not sure I’m completely worthy, but community service is something that’s always been important to me,” Manning said, adding that he was following in father Archie’s footsteps and heeding the advice of his former coach Tony Dungy in being involved in the community.
Manning’s philanthropic endeavors include his Peyback Foundation, which focuses on helping disadvantaged youth.
Manning said community service was important to him during his career and “once you retire you have more time to do it. So, I’ve just really enjoyed being a part of this community for the last 12 years and I think we’re here for the long haul.”
Same with his post-playing career focus.
As Manning headed into retirement a month after winning the Super Bowl in 2016, there was speculation he’d follow John Elway’s path from quarterback great to NFL executive. But Manning instead has focused on building his Omaha Productions footprint and reiterated that he has no plans to join or run a football franchise.
“No, I don’t think that’s anywhere on my radar by any means. But look, I love being an ambassador for the Broncos, for the Colts and the University of Tennessee,” he said.
He said his key fob at the Broncos’ practice facility still works and that he has enjoyed getting to know the Walton-Penner ownership group that bought the Broncos from the Pat Bowlen Trust in 2022 for a then-record $4.65 billion.
“I take seriously sort of that role of being an ambassador for all the teams that I played for, but living here in Denver maybe even more so,” Manning said, adding he’s “enjoyed getting to know the Penner-Walton family, as well. So, but as far as running the team, I don’t think that’s on my radar anyway.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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