Peyton Manning

At 48 years old, Peyton Manning has this physical status:

Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and was a member of the Denver Broncos in his last four seasons, regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time due to his numerous career accomplishments.

Manning played college football for the University of Tennessee, leading the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior year.

He is Archie Manning's second son and older brother of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Manning was chosen by the Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.

He rescued the Colts franchise from 1998 to 2010 and helped them become perennial playoff contenders.

Manning led the team to eight division championships, two AFC championships, and one Super Bowl title, the franchise's first in over three decades, as well as their first since relocating to Indianapolis. Manning was released by the Colts and signed with the Broncos following neck surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season.

He played for the Broncos from 2012 to 2015, and his playing career culminated in a victory in Super Bowl 50. Manning has held numerous NFL awards, including AP MVP awards (5), Pro Bowl appearances (14), and single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), as well as single-season passing touchdowns (55 in 2013).

With 7, he tied for the most first-Team All Pros for a quarterback, and fifth in career passing yards (71,940) and passing TD (5439).

Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion and the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLI, is also the only quarterback to begin the Super Bowl for two franchises more than once (Dungy, Caldwell, Fox, Kubiak), and the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.

Manning was the first quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl until Tom Brady, a color analyst, was able to audible prior to his call, and he was one of the NFL's most recognizable and parodied players.

Manning's teams often used the hurry-up offense instead of the standard huddle.

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Early life and high school career

Manning transferred to Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he led the Greenies football team to a 34–5 record in three seasons as the starter. In 1993, he was named Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player-of-the-Year and Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club National Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He started wearing the #18 jersey in honor of his older brother Cooper, who had to leave football due to spinal stenosis. Eli's younger brother, who took the number when he was first drafted, also had the number. Since retiring the #18 jersey, the newman has since wore it in the school gym, it can be seen hanging in the gym. Manning was one of the country's most highly awaited after high school students, recruited by more than 60 colleges, including Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss's alma mater Ole Miss.

College career

Under head coach Phillip Fulmer, Manning decided to play college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Many fans were surprised that he did not select the Ole Miss Rebels, for whom his father, Archie, was a fan of, and his parents received many angry phone calls and letters. He finished 39 of 45 games as a starter, beating the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) record for career victories. He was Tennessee's all-time leading passer with 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns and won 39 of 39 of 45 games as a starter.

Manning debuted as the third-string quarterback as a freshman. After starting Jerry Colquitt sustained a season-ending injury on the seventh play of the game, he was one of three quarterbacks to come off the bench in the season opener against UCLA. However, he was unable to produce any offense, only handing the ball off three times, and was banned from the game. Manning's first collegiate appearance came two weeks later, in a 31–0 loss to the No. 1 Florida Gators. Starter Todd Helton was injured and took over during the season's fourth game against Mississippi State. The Vols lost 24-21, but Manning threw his first two collegiate touchdowns in the game. He was chosen as the team's starter and stayed so for the remainder of his college career. The Vols lost 10–9 in their first appearance, against Washington State next week. They won just one of their remaining games, defeating Virginia Tech in the 1994 Gator Bowl by a score of 45–23. He played for 89 of 144 for 1,141 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his first collegiate season.

Manning and the Vols opened the 1995 season with victories over East Carolina and SEC rival Georgia before heading to Gainesville to face the opponents the Gators. He threw 326 yards and two touchdowns against Florida, bringing the Vols to a 30-21 halftime lead. In the second half, the Gators defeated the Vols 41-7, winning 62–37. This was the Vols' only loss of the season, after they won their remaining eight regular season games, including a 41–14 victory over rival Alabama. In the Citrus Bowl, the Vols defeated Ohio State by a score of 20–14. The Vols ended the season third in Heisman Trophy voting, placing them in sixth place. He finished his sophomore season with 244 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

The Vols debuted their No. 1 in 1996, ranked No. 1 in the nation. Nebraska is second behind Nebraska in terms of distance. The Vols went back to Florida by 35-29 after winning their first two games against UNLV and UCLA, but Manning's four interceptions made the difference. Despite winning their next four games, the Vols were defeated by Memphis, despite him throwing 296 yards. The Vols won the majority of their games, including a 48–28 victory over Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl, a game in which Manning threw 408 yards and four touchdowns; he was named the game's MVP. The SEC was led by his 243 pass completions and 63.9% completion rate. He had 3,287 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 1996. He also finished in eighth place in Heisman Trophy voting. Manning completed his bachelor of Arts in speech communication in three years. He was also expected to be the top overall pick in the NFL Draft but decided to remain at Tennessee for his senior year.

Manning and the Vols started the season with victories against Texas Tech and UCLA, but Manning dropped to Florida 33-20 for the third time in his career. The Vols won the bulk of their regular season games, finishing 10-1, and advanced to the SEC Championship game against Auburn. Manning led the Vols to a 30–29 victory in the second quarter after being down 20-7. He was named the game's MVP after throwing 373 yards and four touchdowns but also suffered from injuries in the process. In the Orange Bowl, the #3 Vols were matched up with #2 Nebraska; if Tennessee triumphed and top-ranked Michigan lost to Washington State in the Rose Bowl, the Vols would have claimed the national championship. However, the Vols' defense was unable to tackle Nebraska's rushing attack, giving up over 400 yards in a 42–17 loss.

Manning, a senior, received many awards; he was named first-team All-American, the Davey O'Brien Award winner, the Johnny Unitas Award winner, and the Best College Player ESPY award winner, among other things. In the 1997 Heisman Trophy voting, he came in second place behind Charles Woodson. Tennessee retired Manning's number (16) in 2005. The Peyton Manning Passage, one of Neyland Stadium's main streets, was renamed to Peyton Manning Pass. Manning's last season at Tennessee culminated in 3,819 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Manning excelled academically and was elected to the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1997. He has also been named on the National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award.

Manning was accused of sexual assault by trainer Jamie Ann Naughright in 1996 after he pressed his genitals against Naughright's face during a foot examination. As Naughright bent over to examine Malcolm Saxon in the room, he said he was just pulling a prank by "mooning" him. Manning's tale has been denied by both Naughright and Saxon. Naughright resigned from the university after being charged with unlawful conduct in four incidents. She also produced a list of 33 grievances about the school. In 2002, Naughright filed a defamation lawsuit against Manning and three others, alleging that Manning insulted her in a book he wrote with his father and author John Underwood. The case was settled after the court ruled there was ample reason for it to be heard by a jury. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed due to confidentiality issues.

In 2016, Manning was inducted into the Tennessee Athletic Hall of Fame. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame also named him as the 2016 Tennessean of the Year. Manning was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017, his first year of eligibility for the award, and inducted during a ceremony in December. He joined Archie in the Hall of Fame, making them the first father and son pair to be inducted as players.

Professional career

Manning was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. He started as a rookie and went on to play for the Colts for 13 seasons before being sidelined by a neck injury that cost him the entire 2011 season. He was cut by the Colts and joined the Denver Broncos for whom he played from 2012 to 2015. Manning played in 17 NFL seasons, with the year ending due to a neck injury.

Manning is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. He has been named as the NFL's Most Valuable Player five times (four times with the Broncos), twice with the Broncos, and twice with the Broncos), and has been named as a first-team All-Pro seven times. He had a winning percentage of.702 in the regular season as a starter up until the 2015 season. He held the NFL record for career touchdown passes from 2014 to 2019, as well as the career passing yards record from 2015 to 2018. Manning is also the only quarterback in football history to play in four Super Bowls under new head coach John Fox, Jim Caldwell, John Fox, and Gary Kubiak when he reached the league's championship.

Manning's professional career is characterized by the following: Despite high success and encouraging numbers during the regular season, he did not have similar experiences in the postseason. Compared to his 186–79 regular season record, his career as a starter was a more modest 14–13. Manning, on the other hand, won two Super Bowls in Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl 50, winning the former MVP. "His record-breaking stats were cut off because of Manning's post-season woes," a source said. Manning's last season in 2015 was his lowest in terms of statistical analysis, but he did win by the Broncos' No Fly Zone defense, bringing him to an end of his career.

Despite concerns about his arm strength and mobility, Manning was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Although many considered Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf to be his first pick in the draft, all six experts said Manning was superior. Five people said they would draft him first; Manning's Sid Gillman said, "this is a pro quarterback."

The Colts' scouts first favored Leaf, but Manning's behavior was appreciated by the team's leadership and coaches, particularly because Manning appeared to a scheduled interview with the Colts' workers, although Leaf arrived late. Bill Polian, the Colts' general manager who had the final say on the draft pick, recalled Manning's words, "I'll leave you with this thought." If you're a fan of the Lavatory, I can guarantee you that we will win a championship. If you don't, I promise to come back and kick your ass." Manning, "far and away had the stronger arm, threw a tighter ball" than Leaf, according to Polian, contrary to what he heard about their athletic skills.

Manning threw 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns in his rookie year under new head coach Jim Mora, including the most touchdown passes in a season and most interceptions in a rookie year, and was named to the NFL All-Rookie First Team. Manning was 21-of-37 for 322 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions in his NFL debut. In the fourth quarter of the Miami Dolphins' 24-45 loss to the Miami Dolphins, he threw his first career touchdown, a six-yard pass to Marvin Harrison. Manning's first victory came against the San Diego Chargers in Week 5. Manning was back for action against Steve Young two weeks later, tying a Colts rookie record, but the 49ers won 34–31, despite a late field goal. Manning threw three touchdowns in a 24–23 win over the New York Jets in November; he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his effort. Manning's first game-winning touchdown pass to Marcus Pollard was his first game-winning drive of his career. Manning was certainly a good spot for the Colts in 1998, with 3,739 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns, but also lost a league high 28 interceptions as the team tried to a 3–13 record against a defense that gave up more than 30 points per game. The Colts lost many close games, including five games in which they led by double digits at some point.

Manning and the Colts started the 1999 season splitting the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots' first two games. Manning threw over 404 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 3 and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his effort in the 27–19 victory. The Colts responded by winning 11 of their remaining 12 games, finishing 13–3 and the AFC East division. Manning threw a then career-high 80-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Wilkins in Week 11, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 44–17. The ten-game recovery from last year set a new NFL record. Till Matthew Stafford had eight in the 2016 season, his seven game-winning drives were tied for the most in NFL history until Matthew Stafford had eight in the 2016 season. Manning finished the year with 4,135 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns, and was named both Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl, both firsts for him. In pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, he came in third in the NFL. The Colts were ranked first in the AFC as the second seed in the Divisional Round of the playoffs and met Tennessee. The Colts lost 19–16 to the Titans and Manning was limited to 19-of-42 passing attempts for 227 passing yards and one touchdown attempt. In the 51–31 loss, he threw 270 yards and two touchdowns.

With the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, the Colts started the season splitting two games. Manning led the Colts to victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football, a 43–14 victory in which Manning threw 430 yards and four touchdowns; Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for this game. The Colts won four of their next five games, including one against the New England Patriots in which Manning had his first flawless passer rating of his career, but lost four of the five games following that. The Colts regained control by winning their final three games, including a 31–10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. Manning threw four touchdowns in the victory and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. The victory gave the Colts a 10–6 record as well as a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. With 357 pass completions for 4,413 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, he finished the season on the top of the league with league-highs across the board, and was named Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl. In overtime, the Colts lost 23–17 to the Dolphins in the Wild Card Round. In the loss, Manning threw 194 yards and a touchdown.

Manning and the Colts adopted the no-huddle tactic and used it to great advantage in a Week 1 victory over the New York Jets, 45–24. With a victory over Buffalo, Manning throws 421 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, the Colts advanced to 2–0. For this game, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. However, the Colts lost 38-17 to the New England Patriots on the first meeting between Manning and Tom Brady. The Colts continued their decline after losing their first two games. The Colts briefly recovered, winning two games, but lost seven of their last nine games. Manning threw a career-high 86-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Pollard in the 34–20 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Coach Jim Mora uttered his famous "Playoffs" after a 40-21 home loss to the 49ers, in which Manning threw a career-high four interceptions in the game. At the press conference, don't talk about playoffs. Manning ended the season with 4,131 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns, despite the 6–10 record. Nonetheless, the defense gave the most points in the league, and Mora was fired after the season.

Tony Dungy, Manning's second head coach in the NFL, was hired before the 2002 season. The Colts opened the 2002 season with a 4-1 record before going back to 4–4. The Colts responded by winning all but two of their remaining games, including a 35–13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in which Manning had a perfect passer rating for the second time in his career, earning them a 10–6 record and a spot in the playoffs. He played for 4,200 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2002 and was named to the Pro Bowl for the second time. In the Wild Card Round, the Colts were defeated 41–0, with Manning passing only 137 yards and falling 0–3 in the playoffs to start his career.

Manning's third perfect passer rating game and six touchdown passes gave him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The 2003 Colts started their season 5–0, with a 55-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The Colts trailed 35-14 in the final five minutes on Monday Night Football, against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Colts recovered the onside kick after a short touchdown drive. On 4th and 6th, Manning threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison, making it 35–28. Manning was able to get the ball back and drove the offense 85 yards for the game-tying touchdown with 1:41 remaining. For a 38–35 victory, he set up the winning 29-yard field goal in overtime. It was the first time a team in NFL history won a game after trailing by 21 points in the final four minutes of regulation. Manning completed the game with a 386 yards.

The Colts won only three of their remaining games after losing in overtime to the Carolina Panthers, scoring 12–4. In what would be the NFL's top rivalry of the 2000s, the Colts defeated the New England Patriots 9–2 on November 30, the Colts' first match of the season's greatest rivalry since the 2000s. In the third quarter, the Colts trailed 31–10 late until Manning threw three touchdown passes in a span of six minutes to tie the game. In the final minutes, trailing 38-34, the Colts had three plays at the one-yard line to try to score the winning touchdown. The Patriots won on fourth down by linebacker Willie McGinest, and running back Edgerrin James was suspended on fourth down. Manning threw five touchdowns and was named Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. For the month of October, he also received AFC Offensive Player of the Month awards. Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September and joined with Titans quarterback Steve McNair in a joint effort throughout the season. Manning also received the ESPY Award for Best NFL Player. Manning led the league with 379 pass completions for 4,267 passing yards and 29 touchdowns; he was named first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler.

Manning and the Colts won their first playoff game over the Denver Broncos, 41–10. In the game, he threw 377 yards and five touchdowns, earning him his second game of the season and his fourth in his career. Manning received Player of the Week honors for the third time this season. Manning led the Colts to a 38-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. He threw 304 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Manning was shut down by the New England Patriots' top-ranked defense and recorded his third-lowest passer rating of his career, which was 35.5. As the Colts lost the game by a score of 24–14, Manning's defense intercepted him four times and fired him another four times.

After placekicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a game-tying field goal in the closing seconds of the game, the 2004 Colts opened the season on a 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots. Manning scored five touchdowns in the Colts' next four games, including a 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers, earning him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, but the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs followed them for two weeks. The Colts responded well, winning their next eight games before losing their last regular season game to Denver, where Manning appeared in only the first series. Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice during his five-touchdown victory over the Houston Texans in a 49–14 win over the Houston Texans, as well as his appearance in a 41–9 road victory over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving in which he threw six touchdowns in less than three quarters. Manning received AFC Offensive Player of the Month awards for his efforts in November. For the fourth time in Week 16, where he led the Colts to a 34–31 victory after trailing by 15 minutes in the fourth quarter, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time. Manning led the punt team off the field and delivered the first down to wide receiver Reggie Wayne for the first time. Brandon Stokley's 49th touchdown pass of the season was his 49th touchdown pass of the season, beating Dan Marino's record of 48 yards. Manning took the ball first in overtime and set up the winning field goal after the two-point conversion to tie. With the victory, the Colts clinched the AFC's third seed.

Manning completed 4,557 yards, had a then-record 121.1 passer rating, and had a then-record 49 touchdown passes while only throwing only 10 interceptions. He was a unanimous first-team All-Pro pick. By ESPN in 2013, Manning's 2004 season was the second best passing season of all time. Despite the fact that the 2004 season was his only season in which he had less than 500 passes, he did well. In 2004, he finished with a league-best 13.6 yards per pass completion and 9.2 yards per pass attempt. Manning's 9.9% touchdown rate for the season tied for the sixth highest football rate in NFL history (with George Blanda in 1961), and it currently ranks as the most coveted by a quarterback in the 21st century. His 49 touchdown passes are now the third highest ever, with his 121.1 passer rating ranked second highest ever. He was named as the Best NFL Player of the Year by 49 percent of 50 votes, and for the second year in a row. Manning was also named for his 49 touchdown passes, gaining the ESPY Award for Best Record-Breaking Performance. The Colts ended the season with a 12–4 record and their second straight AFC South title. The Colts scored a franchise record 522 points. That year, three Colts receivers had 1,000 yards with at least ten touchdowns, which was a record. Manning had the best season for a quarterback, play-by-play, according to Sport Outsiders. In 2004, Manning had the best season for a quarterback, play-by-play.

Manning threw 458 yards and four touchdowns in the 49–24 victory over the Denver Broncos at home. However, the Colts' 2004 season came to an end in Foxborough with a 20-3 loss to New England in the Divisional Round, and Manning's season-low passer rating of 69.3. Manning's third straight defeat to the Patriots in Foxborough, and the Colts' three points were their lowest single game point total since their first game point total since the 2003 season.

The Colts had a much improved defense in 2005 over those of recent years. They won their first 13 games, including a 41-21 victory over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, who combined this with their offense. This was Manning's first road victory over the Patriots in eight attempts, and his three touchdown passes earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week awards. The Colts had a perfect 13-0 record by Week 15, AFC South, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Nonetheless, head coach Tony Dungy made the call to play all of his regular starters against the San Diego Chargers. However, the Colts played a subpar game against the Chargers but fell short of the victory; the score was 26-17. Manning sat out most of the final two games with the top AFC seed clinched for the 2005 season, with 3,747 passing yards being the first time he threw less than 4,000 yards since his rookie season in 1998. His quarterback rating of 103.89 was the highest in the league for the season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the RCA Dome for their second AFC Divisional Round game of the 2005 season. Manning threw what seemed to be the game-ending interception to safety Troy Polamalu in the fourth quarter, but the call was later revealed to be incorrect. The Colts went on to score and then lost the ball three points near the game's conclusion. Manning was sacked near his own goal line on fourth down, and the game seemed to be over as the Steelers were just one yard away from a touchdown. The ball was fumbled by running back Jerome Bettis and subsequently picked up by Colts defender Nick Harper, who appeared to have a solid route down the sideline for what might have been the game-winning score. Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers' quarterback, however, swung in front of Harper and tackled him in the leg, saving a touchdown. The Colts were forced to the Steelers' 27-yard line on the following drive, before Mike Vanderjagt missed a field goal as time ran out. Manning completed the game with 290 yards and a touchdown.

Manning finished in second place for the MVP award to Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, snapping his streak of two years. He was named the 2005 recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and named for the FedEx Air Player of the Year Award, as well as Tom Brady and Carson Palmer. Manning was voted first-team All-Pro for the third year in a row and named to the Pro Bowl squad.

On Sunday Night Football, Manning began the 2006 season with his brother Eli and the New York Giants. The Colts won 26–21 in their first NFL game with starting quarterbacks who were brothers. In a 43-24 victory over the Houston Texans, Manning threw 400 yards against them, earning him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. In Week 7, Manning received the award for his 345 yards and four touchdown passes against the Washington Redskins. A second trip to New Jersey, this time to face the New York Jets, culminated in another Colts victory. Manning led a third scoring drive to finish with a one-yard quarterback sneak rushing touchdown in the last minute, defeating the fourth quarter twice.

Manning led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter in a 34–31 shootout victory in a road game against the Denver Broncos. He made 32-of-39 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts were the NFL's last undefeated team at 9–0 in the second straight season after a triumph at New England and then a home victory over Buffalo. The Dallas Cowboys' first loss came in a 21–14 road loss. The Colts were 11–4 going into their final game, despite being plagued by a run defense that allowed over 100 yards in every game. Manning threw 282 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for another touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. The Colts defeated 27–22, were AFC South division champions, and clinched the third seed in the AFC playoffs. Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week by the Week. He finished the regular season with 4,397 passing yards and a league-leading 31 touchdown passes. For the third year in a row, his passer rating (101.0) was the highest in the league. Manning aided the offense in establishing a new NFL record for third-down conversion rate in a season (56.1%).

Manning completed 30 out of 38 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown as the Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round by a score of 23–8. The Colts were limited to five field goals and no touchdowns this week, but they beat the Baltimore Ravens 15–6. In the Divisional Round victory, Manning was 15 of 30 for 170 yards and two interceptions. The Colts trailed 14-3 when Manning threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Asante Samuel, giving New England a 21-3 lead. Manning led the Colts to 32 points in the second half, defeating them 38–34 for the first time in the game. He finished the game with 349 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. The comeback was the biggest deficit ever overcome in a conference championship.

Manning led the Colts to a 29–17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, completing 25-of-38 passes for 247 yards, a touchdown, and an intercept. He became the first Colts player to be honoured after Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley was named MVP of Super Bowl V, the franchise's previous title. Manning received the ESPY for his contribution to the Colts' championship run. Manning was also selected to the Pro Bowl and named Second-Team All-Pro. Manning restructured his deal after winning the Super Bowl, saving the Colts $8.2 million in salary cap space.

With seven wins, the Colts started the NFL season, pitting them against an undefeated Patriots squad in a match-up that was dubbed "Super Bowl 41 1/2" (noticed). Manning and Joseph Addai aided the Colts to a 13–7 halftime lead, and a late fourth-quarter touchdown extended the lead to 20–10. However, Brady led the Patriots to two late touchdowns, giving Manning and the Colts their first loss of the season, 24-20. Manning led the game with 225 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown.

Manning did not recover from the defeat with a straight bounce back. He threw a career-best and franchise-record six interceptions against the San Diego Chargers. Despite this, he was able to rally the Colts from a 23–0 deficit to 23–21. Vinatieri gave Adam Vinatieri a chance to lead with a field goal but the Colts lost 7–2. Manning didn't do well against the Kansas City Chiefs either, throwing no touchdowns. However, he did lead the Colts on a late pursuit for a game-winning field goal, rushing for two yards on 4th and 1 in the process. Manning led the game with 163 passing yards, allowing him to surpass 40,000 in his career. Manning's 100th victory was his 100th.

The Colts secured yet another AFC South title and the AFC's second-seed in the playoffs, as well as the AFC's second-seed in the AFC. In that span, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 20 of 29 for 288 passing yards, four touchdowns, and an interception were all defeated. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his work against the Jaguars. Manning played only two series before being replaced by back-up Jim Sorgi; the Colts lost the game to the Titans, 16–10. Manning ended the season with 4,040 passing yards, 31 touchdown passes, and a quarterback rating of 98.0. Manning and the Colts lost by 28–24 in the Divisional Round. Manning led the Colts to four leads but was unable to lead the team to the win on a final touchdown drive. Manning had 422 yards and three touchdowns in the game. During Super Bowl XLII, he was seen cheering for his brother Eli and the New York Giants as he defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

Manning had surgery to repair an infected bursa sac in his left knee on July 14, 2008. Manning, who wore a knee brace due to injuries while in college, sat out all four preseason games and missed the majority of training camp.

Manning and the Colts began the 2008 season with a 1–2 record. Manning converted the Colts from a 27–10 deficit in the last five minutes against the Houston Texans to a 31–27 victory in Week 5. After trailing by 17 points in the last five minutes, an NFL team won a game in regulation for the first time. Manning completed the deficit by throwing a seven-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Tom Santi on 4th and 6th to make the deficit 27–17. Sage Rosenfels, the quarterback for Houston, then fumbled the ball on a scramble, and Gary Brackett scored it 68 yards for a touchdown. Manning threw the 5-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne after another Rosenfels fumble. In 2:10, the Colts scored three touchdowns in 2:10.

Manning led the Colts to a 31–3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on October 12, preventing the Colts from their first 0–3 start at home since the 1997 season. For the 17th time in his career, Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts of three touchdown passes and 271 yards passing. Manning had a second knee surgery before the season began, according to CBS commentators Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. Tony Dungy, the Colts' head coach, confirmed this news the day before the game.

The Colts suffered their biggest loss of the season on the following week, 34-14, against the Green Bay Packers. Manning intercepted two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. The Colts opened up in November against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football following a setback to the undefeated Tennessee Titans in Week 8. Manning tied at 15 in the fourth quarter before setting up Adam Vinatieri for a 52-yard field goal that proved to be the winning points in an 18–15 victory. Manning completed 21-of-29 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

They trailed 17-7 in the second quarter before Manning found tight end Dallas Clark for a two-yard touchdown to end the half 17-14. Manning discovered running back Dominic Rhodes on a 17-yard touchdown pass that would put the Colts up 24-20 for the remainder of the game, down 20–17. It was Manning's fourth game-winning effort (35th of his career) of the season. He finished 21 of 40 for 240 yards and three touchdowns (his 50th game of his career with three touchdown passes). It was the first time the Colts had won in Pittsburgh since 1968, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive losses. Manning led five straight scoring drives in a 33-27 win over the Houston Texans, the third in a row for the Colts. Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season (18th time, career).

The Colts won four straight games to snap a winning streak seven games after the Texans. Manning had one of his best performances in Jacksonville on Thursday Night Football, needing a victory to clinch the fifth seed in the playoffs. He got his first 17 passes of the game. Manning's 23 straight completions fell one shy of the NFL record for the first six weeks against Detroit. In the first half and 24–14, the Colts trailed 14-0 in the first half and 24–14 to begin the fourth quarter. Manning won his seventh quarter of the season on the road, but the Colts brought the game back with a defensive touchdown on a 31–24 victory, clinching their seventh straight playoff appearance. Manning completed 29-of-34 passes (85.7%) for 364 yards and three touchdowns. With 25 touchdown passes to 11, he reached a new NFL record of seasons. Manning and the Colts tied for the first game in a season in which they trailed by at least 14 points. Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in the 2008 season. It was his 19th time he received the award, beating Dan Marino for the first time since the program was established in 1984. He was also named as the Week's FedEx Air Player of the Week. Manning only played the first drive against the division-leading Titans in Week 17. He finished all seven of his passes for 95 yards and a touchdown, extending his NFL record to nine seasons with 4,000 yards passing, while also leading the Colts to their sixth straight season. Manning was named NFL MVP for the third time in NFL history, tying Brett Favre for the most MVP awards in NFL history.

The Colts face their 2007 opponents, the Chargers, in the Wild Card Round on the day following the MVP award. Manning, who was down 14-10 at the half, put the Colts up 17–14 in the third quarter after completing a 72-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. However, the Chargers tied the game in the fourth quarter after kicker Nate Kaeding nailed a 22-yard field goal. San Diego scored a touchdown on the first possession, snaping the Colts' season for the second straight season. In the loss, Manning was 25 of 42 for 310 yards and a touchdown. Tony Dungy retired at the end of the season.

Manning won AFC Offensive Player of the Month for the fourth time in his career under new head coach Jim Caldwell. Manning threw 353 yards and two touchdowns in his fourth straight 300-yard passing game against the Seattle Seahawks, setting a new franchise record in the 34–17 victory.

Manning led the Colts to three more victories, raising the Colts' record to 7–0. Manning was the first quarterback to throw over 40,000 yards in a decade in the 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 9. In the first quarter, he had a career-high 25 passes, the most since 1991 in any first quarter, and had a career-high 40 pass attempts in the first half. With his seventh 300-yard effort of the season, he tied for most 300-yard passing games in a season, which was a NFL record in the first eight games of a season. In Week 10, he threw 327 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, defeating the New England Patriots 35-34. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his effort against the Patriots. Manning won his 34th appearance in the fourth quarter against Houston, tying him with John Elway and Johnny Unitas for second place in NFL history. Manning defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 23 for his 23rd straight games, beating Jim McMahon's NFL record of 22 consecutive victories with the Chicago Bears from 1984 to 1987. Despite having a flawless regular season, Manning was limited in the final two games of the regular season, with all clinching scenarios locked up for the Colts. With a 14-2 record, the Colts advanced to the playoffs for the first time. Manning finished second in the league in those passing categories with 4,500 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Manning was named MVP for the fourth time by a single player at the end of the regular season, breaking the NFL record for most MVPs by a single player. For the fifth time in his career, he was also selected to the AP All-Pro team. With seven game-winning drives in 2009, he tied his then-NFL record of seven game-winning drives.

Manning threw two touchdown passes late in the first half to give the Baltimore Ravens a 17–3 halftime advantage. In his eighth straight victory over the Ravens, he passed for 246 yards. Manning led the Colts to 24 unanswered points in the AFC Championship against the New York Jets in the second quarter. The 11-point comeback was the third largest in a conference championship game. Manning's seventh 300-yard passing game in the postseason tied for his eighth game in the playoffs.

Manning, a native of New Orleans, led the Colts to a 10–0 lead after their two first quarter drives, throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Pierre Garçon to cap off a 96-yard run, the longest in Super Bowl history. The Colts led 10–6 at halftime after only six plays in the second quarter. The Saints were able to get to the second half onside and took their first lead, 13-10. Manning led the charge on a go-ahead touchdown drive. Matt Stover, the Colts' leading 17-19-16 at the start of the fourth quarter, missed a 51-yard field goal. With 5:42 left, the Saints led to a 24–17 lead after a go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion. Manning took over and moved the Colts to the Saints' 31-yard line. With 3:24 left, Facing a 3rd and 5th, Tracy Porter intercepted Reggie Wayne's pass, resulting in a crucial touchdown and a 31–17 Saints lead. In the last minute, Manning brought the Colts down to the 5-yard line, but Reggie Wayne disqualified him at the goal line, forcing Manning to miss his 4th and goal pass. Manning was suspended to 9–9 in the postseason and a 1–1 record in the Super Bowl, giving the Saints their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Manning finished the Super Bowl with 333 passing yards on 31 of 45 attempts, one touchdown, and one interception.

Manning was a career-high in Houston, with 57 pass attempts and 40 completions, throwing three touchdowns and 433 yards, the fourth best opening-weekend total ever. Manning threw 325 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in his third game, marking the first time a quarterback since 1960, a quarterback started his season with three consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Manning made his 200th regular season appearance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.

For the 11th time in a season, he passed over 4,000 passing yards against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, and tied Dan Marino for his 63rd regular season game with at least 300 passing yards. For this game, Manning was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. For the seventh time in eight years, the Colts won the AFC South, and Manning became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to nine consecutive postseason appearances. It was his 208th regular season debut of his career, defeating Gene Upshaw's record. Manning posted a season-best 450 completions on 679 attempts and a career-best 4,700 passing yards. Before Andrew Luck broke it in 2014, Manning's passing yards were a franchise record.

In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, the Colts' season came to an end, losing 17-16 to the New York Jets. Manning played for the Colts for 225 yards and a touchdown in his last game.

He was named by his peers as the second best player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.

Manning was branded on the Colts on February 15, 2011. After discussions in which Manning made it clear that he did not need to be the highest-paid player in the NFL, the Colts agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract on July 30, 2011.

Manning could not use the Colts' facilities for practice and workouts after a neck injury on May 23. At Coors Field in Denver, he used the Colorado Rockies baseball team's trainers, who was reluctant to have witnesses to his recovery. Manning was unable to complete his throwing motion, and his arm strength had significantly decreased. Doctors told him in the late summer that they needed spinal fusion surgery and that, at his age, they could not guarantee his return to the league. Manning was officially ruled out for the season opener against Houston on September 7, snapping his streak of 208 games (227, including the playoffs); the Colts signed Kerry Collins out of retirement and named him interim starting quarterback. Manning underwent second surgery on September 8.

Despite the fact that owner Jim Irsay did not expect that he would return to play this year, he was kept on the roster without going on injured reserve. Manning started throwing footballs again in mid-December, with teammate Joseph Addai even claiming that his passes were "game ready." Manning did not play a single game in the 2011 season, and the Colts went 2–14 without him, only the third season since Manning was a rookie to the Colts did not win at least ten games.

Manning was signed on March 7, 2012 with the Colts having the first overall pick in the forthcoming 2012 Draft, which featured highly rated quarterback Andrew Luck out of Stanford and Manning receiving a $28 million roster bonus. Bill Polian, the Colts' former general manager, drafted Manning, general manager Chris Polian, and head coach Jim Caldwell as a precursor to rebuilding the team.

Manning told Colts fans, "Thank you for allowing me to be your quarterback." Since being released, Colts owner Jim Irsay said that no Colt would ever wear the No. 1 jersey. On March 18, 2016, the 18 jersey officially retired, and it was also retired on March 18, 2016. Despite not playing in the 2011 season, he ranked 50th by his peers.

Manning was one of the most popular after-free agents going into the 2012 season. Many groups wanted to speak with Manning, including the Miami Dolphins, the Tennessee Titans, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Denver Broncos. Manning ultimately selected Denver after speaking with John Elway, the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager, and Broncos head coach John Fox, after visiting both the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos. On March 20, 2012, Manning and the Broncos reached an agreement on a five-year deal worth $96 million. Despite the fact that the #18 has been retired in honor of quarterback Frank Tripucka, Manning has given the number a new lease on life.

In the first Sunday of the 2012 season, Manning made his regular season debut as a Denver Bronco. Manning completed 19-of-26 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. In the 31-19 victory, he recorded a 129.2 QB rating and made history by connecting with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on a 71-yard touchdown pass. Manning's first appearance in the NFL with a team other than the Colts was his 400th game appearance, making him his third quarterback after Dan Marino and Brett Favre, and the third fastest of the three to reach that milestone. In a Week 6 game against the San Diego Chargers, he was 24 of 309 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception. At halftime, the Broncos trailed 24–0, while Manning led the Broncos to 35 unanswered points. For his first appearance since being to Denver, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Chargers. Despite preseason tremblings over his recovery, ESPN reported that Manning "has silenced the critics" about his arm strength. Manning was selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl for the 12th time. He was 23 of 29 for 304 yards and three touchdowns in Week 17, a 38-3 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, to close out the regular season. For his work against the Chiefs, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with 4,659 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In the 2012 season, Manning set single-season franchise records for pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and touchdowns.

In the Divisional Round to the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos advanced to Super Bowl XLVII that season, winning bye and a first-round bye. Manning finished the game 28 of 43 for 290 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Manning was named the AP National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award on February 2, 2013, a first-team All-Pro pick, and finished second in MVP voting. He was voted the second best player in the NFL by his peers in 2013.

Manning made his debut in football history and the first to throw seven touchdowns in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, the defending Super Bowl XLVII champions. He added to his feat by not throwing an intercept in a tie that is tying Y. A. Tittle was one of only two players to have a 7:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio in a single game (although the Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Foles later matched that feat against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 of the same season). He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his heroic play against the Ravens.

Manning passed for the most touchdown passes in the first three games of a season against the Oakland Raiders in Week 3. His result against the Raiders earned him his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week award in three weeks. Manning threw his first interception of the season in a Week 5 victory over the Dallas Cowboys; he was intercepted by cornerback Morris Claiborne. Manning returned to Indianapolis for the first time in the regular season after being drafted by the Colts two weeks earlier. The Colts performed a tribute video to Manning during a moving pregame function. He was 29 of 49 for 386 yards, three touchdowns, and one intercept, but he was suspended for a season-high four times as the Broncos fell 39–33.

The Broncos took on the New England Patriots on November 24, and they defeated them on November 24. At halftime, the Broncos led by a 24–0 margin. In overtime, the Patriots came back and defeated 34–31. Manning had a season-low 150 passing yards to go along with two touchdowns and one interception in the loss. The Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the following game by a score of 35–28 after the tough loss. In the victory, he had 403 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. In the 51-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he continued to pass with 397 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Manning tied for most touchdown passes in a season against the Houston Texans on Monday on a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Julius Thomas. For the third time in the 2013 season, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Drew Brees had 266 passing yards and four passing touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders in Week 17 of the season, topping Drew Brees' record by a yard. His 450 completions ranked second in the world at the time, with second place being tied for second. The Broncos were named the first team to reach 600 points in a season after posting a record 606 points.

Manning passed for at least 400 yards in a record-tying three games, beating Dan Marino's 1984 appearance. They had more 50-point games in a season than in any other franchise in NFL history, with three of them. At least ten touchdowns, an NFL record, were recorded by four Broncos, and Manning set a new season record by playing nine games with four or more touchdown passes.

His 115.1 passer rating stands seventh all time, and Brady joins Brady as the only two quarterbacks to have a passer rating above 110.0 or higher in more than a season. The Broncos defeated the San Diego Chargers in their Divisional Round playoff match by a score of 24–17. Manning completed 25 of 36 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The Broncos defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship by a score of 26–16 in another postseason match between Manning and Brady. Manning was 32-of-43 for 400 passing yards and two touchdowns. After Craig Morton and Kurt Warner, Manning became the third starting quarterback to play for two franchises.

The Broncos lost by 43–8 to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. Manning was up against Manning, who adored Manning and attended one of Manning's passing camps as a youth, and later met Manning in a Broncos pre-draft interview. The Seahawks' number one ranked defense was too weak for the Broncos' top-ranked offense to overcome, although the Broncos' defense also suffered due to injuries. The Broncos' first game from scrimmage set the tone for the game. Manny Ramirez snapped the ball too early and shot it over Manning's head into the end zone, but it was later grounded for a safety, but Manning was able to call an audible center Manny Ramirez. Manning set a Super Bowl record of 34 completions (broken by Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLIX the following year), but the record-breaking offense did not get a first down and did not score any points until the third quarter. Although Manning had one touchdown pass and one successful two-point conversion, he also throw two expensive interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Malcolm Smith in the second quarter.

He was named as the best player in the league by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.

Manning was fined $8,268 for taunting D. J. Swearinger during a preseason game against the Houston Texans on August 28, 2014. Manning was the first quarterback to beat all 32 teams in the Broncos' opening game of the 2014 NFL season against the Colts, alongside Brett Favre. The Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl XLVIII rematch was the next game. Despite losing the overtime game by 26-20, Manning had 303 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception as the Broncos fared better than in last year's Super Bowl. Manning tied for his highest career touchdown pass to Julius Thomas on October 5, 2014, beating Dan Marino for the most 400-yard games by a quarterback.

Manning threw his 509th career touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, beating Brett Favre to become the NFL's all-time leader in passing touchdowns on Sunday Night Football, on NBC Sunday Night Football, defeating him by 509th in career against the San Francisco 49ers on October 19, 2014. His spectacular touchdown was part of a 318-yard, four-touchdown passing effort in which he received AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the 27th and final time in his career. He finished the 2014 season with 4,727 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Manning was selected to his 14th Pro Bowl appearance, tying him with Tony Gonzalez, Bruce Matthews, and Merlin Olsen for the most Pro Bowl picks in his career at the time. The Broncos posted a 12–4 record and were voted first-round bye. However, his season ended when the Broncos lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to his old team, the Colts, 24–13. Manning was 26-for-46 for 211 yards and a touchdown. However, he went 7-for-18 (38.9%) in the first half, his lowest completion rate in a first half of a game since 2007. Manning's was the ninth time he had gone one-and-done in the postseason. The Broncos and head coach John Fox were fired after the season ended, and head coach John Fox was fired after the season ended. He was ranked as the fifth best player by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.

Manning declared in the offseason that he would return to the league for his 18th season, this time under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Manning's play appeared to have deteriorated in the Baltimore Ravens' season opener, going 24-40 for 175 yards and one interception, but the Broncos were aided by a pick-six by cornerback Aqib Talib and late interception by Darian Stewart, who helped the Broncos defeat the Baltimore Ravens by 19-13. In the decisive 29–10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on November 1, he finished with a season-high 340 passing yards and an interception. The Broncos got off to a good 7-0 start to the season, but they lost in a loss at Indianapolis, losing 27-24. Manning played better during his winning streak and the loss in Indianapolis, throwing over 250 yards and nine touchdowns in six of the seven games. However, he never missed a game without an interceptor, raising his 8-game TD–INT ratio to 9-13, and the Broncos needed a hardworking defense for victories.

Manning had a four-yard pass to running back Ronnie Hillman in Week 10, in the second divisional game against Kansas City. Despite the feat, Manning went 5-for-20 for 35 yards and four interceptions with a 0.0 passer rating before Kubiak benched him in the third quarter. As the Broncos lost 29-13, Brock Osweiler filled in for Manning for the remainder of the game. Manning's record didn't exist until the 2018 season, when Drew Brees broke it against the Washington Redskins in Week 5. Manning was suffering from plantar fasciitis a day later, according to reports. It was later revealed that the injury would keep him out of Week 11, his first game in a season he played. In a 17-15 victory over the Chicago Bears, Osweiler replaced Manning and excelled in a 17–15 victory, sparking concerns that Manning will maintain his role when healthy in a Week 12 showdown against the New England Patriots. On the next day, Kubiak, quoting Manning's injury, announced that Osweiler would begin against New England. Even though Manning returned to practice and the Broncos went seven straight quarters without scoring a single touchdown on offense, it was announced that Osweiler would get his fifth straight start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 15. In six games without Manning, the Broncos were 4–2, giving them an 11–4 record going into the final week of the regular season.

Manning, among other notable athletes, was identified as having illegal drugs from Charles Sly, a pharmacist who worked at the Guyer Anti-Aging Clinic in Indianapolis during the fall of 2011. Manning was cleared of the charges in July 2016, after the NFL found no evidence to back up the allegations.

Manning was listed as healthy for the San Diego Chargers' regular season finale on Week 17, but he was not listed as a backup for the first time since his freshman year as a student. Manning played in relief of Osweiler, who was intercepted twice and fumbled once more in the third quarter, with the Broncos down 13–7. He and the Broncos went on to beat the Chargers 27–20 to claim the AFC West and first seed in the AFC. Despite Manning's 12–4 record (and Manning's 8–2 record in games he played in) Manning had his worst season of his career, with a career-low nine touchdown passes and 17 interceptions in fewer than ten games and the first time he had his lowest rating since his rookie season. Manning's 59.8 completion rate was his second lowest finish of his career, only behind his rookie season. Manning's 17 interceptions came in second place to Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, who had 18 interceptions but played in all 16 games.

The Broncos were able to win home-field advantage in the NFL playoffs due to their selection as the AFC's top seed. The Broncos won the Divisional Round by a score of 23–16, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round by a margin of 23–16. The New England Patriots, the defending Super Bowl champions, will host the New England Patriots. In the victory over the Steelers, Manning was 21-of-37 for 222 with no touchdowns or interceptions. Manning and his longtime rival Tom Brady met in AFC Championship Game for the 17th and ultimately final match. Despite the Patriots' late comeback, the Broncos defeated the Broncos 20–18 to advance to Super Bowl 50. In the victory, Manning had 176 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.

In Super Bowl 50, the Broncos stunned the Carolina Panthers 24–10 as the Broncos' defense shuts down the top-ranked offense and regular season MVP Cam Newton. Manning was 13-of-23 for 141 yards and one interception after being suspended five times, totaling his only passing points with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter when he joined wide receiver Bennie Fowler for a two-point conversion that was the final pass of his career. Manning was the first starting quarterback to play in and win a Super Bowl until Tom Brady set a record in Super Bowl LIII at age 41 and then again in Super Bowl LV at age 43. Manning became the first quarterback to start in two Super Bowls, each with different head coaches (Dungy, Caldwell, Fox, and Kubiak) and the first quarterback to lead two franchises to a Super Bowl victory. Manning's win made him the starting quarterback with the most combined regular season and playoff victories in NFL history, as well as the playoffs. Since beating Manning's record in 2016, Tom Brady has now surpassed Manning's record.

On March 7, 2016, Manning announced his resignation after 18 seasons. "I've fought a good fight," his retirement address said. I've finished my football career, and it's time to celebrate 18 years. "God bless football and may God bless football." Manning was honoured with the 2016 ESPY Icon Award after 18 seasons in the NFL. During his career, he received a total of nine ESPY Awards.

The Colts unveiled a bronze statue of Manning outside their Lucas Oil Stadium on October 7, 2017. Manning was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor, becoming the first player to have his jersey retired by the Colts since they moved to Indianapolis. Manning was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team in 2019.

NFL career statistics

Manning has a number of notable career accomplishments::

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