What does Peyton Manning's brother Cooper Manning do? 

Cooper Manning is Archie Manning's oldest son, and he ought to have heralded in the new generation of Mannings to play in the NFL.

That could have been possible, as all the necessary apparatus was set into motion, till disaster struck. So here, we will take a deep dive into the legacy of Cooper Manning and identify whether the 'forgotten one' was even good enough to play in the NFL in the first place.

What does Cooper Manning do?

Cooper is the first son of a legendary college football quarterback, Archie Manning, and is the older brother of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning. He is a former high school standout wide receiver who set several records playing alongside Peyton in the Isidore Newman School offense.

Presently, Cooper is a successful entrepreneur and business consultant. He previously served as part owner of an energy investment firm, where he made inroads into the growing American energy industry.

Currently, the oldest Manning brother is a senior managing director of investor relations at AJ Capital Partners, a hospitality and real estate investment firm. In his spare time, Manning hosts The Manning Hour, a FOX NFL Kickoff segment where he showcases his deep knowledge of the game.

How close was Cooper Manning to playing in the NFL?

Cooper was close to playing in the NFL and building a unique legacy, different from that of his siblings and dad. That is because, unlike the other Mannings, Cooper was a wide receiver whose strength was his speed, route running, and footballing IQ.

However, his NFL dreams were shattered after he left high school. The numbness in his palms was diagnosed as spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal. That condition meant that he risked paralysis anytime he stepped on the Gridiron, and despite his competitive spirit, there was nothing he could do.

Who was Cooper Manning's dad, Archie Manning?

Cooper Manning's dad is none other than the College Football Hall of Fame inductee Archie Manning, a man who played QB for three NFL teams, racking up two Pro Bowl selections in the process.

Archie Manning is the patriarch of the much-lauded Manning family, and he showcased his penchant for winning in the 1970s and early 1980s. Archie is a bonafide legend at the New Orleans Saints, and he was so good that his sons, Peyton and Eli, were treated with respect anytime they faced the Saints during their careers.

On a side note, Archie's first grandson, named Arch, is a likely number one pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, a sure sign that the Manning genes keep waxing stronger.