There’s no question that during his 18-season NFL career (1998–2015), former quarterback Peyton Manning cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Since retiring, Manning has collected numerous accolades, including induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and having his jersey retired by the Indianapolis Colts. On Wednesday, he added another prestigious honor to the list.
ESPN named Manning one of three quarterbacks selected for its “NFL All Quarter Century Team,” alongside Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. The list recognizes the top 53 players in the league based on performance since 2000.
The recognition didn’t go unnoticed by the Tennessee Volunteers—Manning’s alma mater—who took to social media to celebrate and congratulate the iconic QB.
There’s no question Manning deserves this honor, as his performance from 2000 to 2015 was nothing short of elite. During that span, he completed 5,468 of 8,272 pass attempts for 64,066 yards, throwing 487 touchdowns against 208 interceptions, with a 98.6 passer rating.
He was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, named First-Team All-Pro seven times, earned two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and became the only player in NFL history to win five MVPs. He also captured two Super Bowl titles—one with the Colts and another with the Broncos.
But none of this remarkable success may have been possible without his foundation at Tennessee, where he spent four standout years, earned All-America honors as a senior, and finished in the top 10 of Heisman Trophy voting three times.
Manning’s time with the Volunteers played a pivotal role in shaping him into the top overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts—marking the beginning of one of the most remarkable and well-rounded careers in NFL history.
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