When Did Peyton Manning Retire?

The Manning family is one of the most famous and well-respected families in professional football. The significance lies in the fact that this family has had not one, not two, but three-star quarterbacks who have given some memorable performances to their fanbase. Of the three, Peyton Manning is easily the most decorated one and is also considered one of the greats of the game with his on-field accomplishments.

Peyton Manning’s start to his journey takes us back to the days when there were no social media, the internet was still advancing and media coverage although good was not in high definition that we have today. Yet, there was always a lot of buzz surrounding him especially when his college career was coming to an end and everyone was awaiting his entry in the NFL. The year was 1998 when the Indianapolis Colts took him with their first overall pick and the rest is history.

Peyton Manning with the Colts

Before we dive into Manning and his retirement, it is important to know about his career as a professional player in the best football league. Being drafted as the number one pick generally means that the team drafting the player is really in turmoil. Peyton faced a similar situation during his rookie year at Indianapolis. The team performed horribly, Manning led the league with 28 interceptions and the Colts finished with a 3-13 record.

From his second season onwards, Manning established himself as one of the best in the league. He led the Colts to a 13-3 record which marked a major turnaround in the history of the franchise as the Colts had only managed three playoff appearances since 1977. Although Manning and the Colts didn’t win a Super Bowl till their seventh season together, the 1999 season kickstarted a run of 11 out of his 14 seasons with the Colts where they reached the postseason. During his 14-year tenure with the Colts, Manning led the league on multiple accounts in various metrics such as pass completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating, etc.

Peyton Manning with the Broncos

In May of 2011, after Manning underwent neck surgery, he was unable to play football and missed out on the entire 2011 season. The Colts slumped to a 2-14 record and in a bid to restructure the team for the 2012 season, the management made many changes which included letting go of their star quarterback. Being a highly sought-after candidate, Manning eventually signed with the Denver Broncos. Thus began his second chapter in the NFL.

In 2011, the Broncos had already reached the playoffs divisional round, and with the addition of Manning to their roster, they were looking to go all the way to the Super Bowl. In four seasons with the Broncos, Manning led the team to 2 Super Bowls, winning one of them against the Carolina Panthers in 2015. With that victory, Manning completed 200 wins in the NFL including the regular season and the postseason.

How old was Peyton Manning when he retired?

At the end of Super Bowl 50, which gave Manning his second ring and also his 200th NFL win, Manning decided to call it quits on March 7, 2016. In the game he loved so dearly, Peyton achieved enormous success with multiple awards and records to his name. By the time his career came to an end, Peyton had given 18 long and heartwarming seasons to the game and to his fans all across the world.

So, when the moment finally came to walk away from the game, the young kid who had idolized his father as a professional quarterback, paved his own glorious path into the history books of the NFL. Born on March 24, 1976, Peyton Manning decided to ride off into the sunset just a couple of weeks before his 40th birthday.