Back to search

Peyton Manning

Quarterback

Inducted 2017

Date of Birth

3/24/1976

Birthplace

New Orleans, LA

School

University of Tennessee (1994-1997)

Bio

A 1997 Consensus First Team All-America, Peyton Manning is Tennessee’s all-time leading passer and becomes just the second College Football Hall of Fame inductee ever to have also claimed the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy. The 1997 Heisman Trophy runner-up, Manning claimed the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Sullivan Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award among many others during his senior campaign. Manning holds numerous Tennessee records, including wins by a starting quarterback (39), passing yards (11,201), touchdown passes (89), total touchdowns (101, 89 passing/12 rushing), passing attempts (1,381), completions (863), completion percentage (62.5) and career 300-yard games (18). A Third Team All-American as a junior he led the Vols to four consecutive bowl games, winning the first three and earning MVP honors in the 1997 Citrus Bowl. The 1997 SEC Player of the Year led Tennessee to the conference title that season and earned MVP honors in the championship game. A three-time All-SEC selection under Hall of Fame coach Phillip Fulmer, Manning earned first team honors in 1995 and 1997, second team laurels in 1996 and was also named the 1994 SEC Freshman of the Year. Finishing as the SEC’s all-time leading passer, his career passing yards now rank fourth and he is third in conference annals in career passing touchdowns. Manning also holds the SEC record for lowest single-season interception percentage (1.05), finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting in 1995 and 1996 and led Tennessee to three consecutive top 10 finishes nationally. In addition to winning the 1997 Campbell Trophy as the top football scholar-athlete in the country, he was a two-time Academic All-American. The first overall pick in 1998 NFL Draft, Manning established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, playing for the Indianapolis Colts for 13 seasons and the Denver Broncos for four. The only player in NFL history to be named MVP five times, he made 14 Pro Bowl appearances. He owns NFL career passing records for both yards and touchdowns, earned MVP honors in the Colts’ victory in Super Bowl XLI and received the 2005 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He retired following the 2015 season after leading Denver to a victory in Super Bowl 50. Off the field, Manning established the PeyBack Foundation in 1999 to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth. He also opened the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent (Indianapolis) in 2003 and started the Chattanooga Heroes Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Tennessee retired his No. 16 in 2005 and established the Peyton Manning Scholarship in his honor. He will join his father, Archie Manning, in the College Football Hall of Fame, making them the first father-son duo to both be inducted as players.