Peyton Manning Retiring As A Champion
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DENVER (CBSMiami) -- A month after the Denver Broncos became Super Bowl champions, Peyton Manning has announced he will hang up his cleats.
Not yet 40 years old, Manning calls it a career after 18 seasons, earning five MVP awards, two Super Bowl rings and dozens of passing records. He goes down as the all-time leader in TD's (539) and passing yards (71,940), owns both of the single-season records with 55 TD's and 5,477 yards in 2013, and maybe most importantly, owns the NFL's most overlooked stat -- 200 career wins, including the playoffs.
Manning follows in the footsteps of Broncos' boss John Elway, who retired after winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.
"Peyton was a player that guys wanted to play with," Elway said. "That made us better as a team and I'm thrilled that we were able to win a championship in his final year."
Thank you, Peyton, and congratulations on your magnificent 18-year NFL career! https://t.co/YdMt19tQ2i pic.twitter.com/jYDXpMmlUA
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 6, 2016
Fans questioned the move to not announce a retirement in the immediate glow and confetti that a story book championship demands, but history will show it was Manning's dignity and grace to not take away from the team's victory with such a personal reveal.
"I was truly honored to be a part of that game, to be playing the 50th Super Bowl," Manning said in an interview with CBS This Morning. "Obviously I've been a huge football fan growing up, and have watched a ton of Super Bowls, and walking out on that field for the pre-game warmups -- it was about as beautiful of setting you could possibly imagine. And to be playing in it, I felt so honored and grateful."
Peyton Manning retires as the game's only quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.