Although it’s assumed Peyton Manning will ride off into the sunset with a Super Bowl 50 win under his belt as his last NFL game and retire over the next few weeks, no one truly knows.
Even someone who should be in the know, Manning’s father Archie, hesitated to say Manning is a sure thing to retire. But he did give the NFL Network an interesting nugget following the Denver Broncos‘ win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.
“I think Peyton’s done in Denver,” Archie Manning said on the NFL Network. “I think Peyton’s done in Denver. He may be done everywhere.”
The elder Manning would slightly backtrack immediately after making the statement.
“You know what? I don’t stick my nose in it, so I don’t know that. I don’t know that. But that’s my guess.”
Manning, 39, has dealt with a number of injuries — most notably on his neck which has required multiple surgeries over the years — and has little to prove at this point. He’s arguably the greatest regular season quarterback in NFL history, and is now a multiple Super Bowl winner, so his critics can no longer get on his case for winning just one.
He’s also the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
#Broncos Peyton Manning is the 1st to win #SuperBowl as starting QB of two teams. pic.twitter.com/MKon685VB8
— XFINITY Sports (@XFINITYSports) February 8, 2016
Every reporter who has spoken to Manning since the big win on Sunday night has asked him about his potential retirement plans, and he’s given the same answer each time.
“I’ll pray about it to the big man upstairs.” — #Denver @Broncos‘ #PeytonManning on plans of retirement after #SB50https://t.co/pppa4U8gzI
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) February 8, 2016
Whispers circulated last week that the Los Angeles Rams will do anything and everything in their power to woo Manning to the ‘City of Angels’ over the offseason should he elect to continue playing, and the same rumor swirled again on Monday.
If Peyton Manning doesn’t retire, the Los Angeles Rams want him. https://t.co/ms5v3l11nd
— K-FROG Radio (@KFROGRadio) February 8, 2016
Manning has a reported net worth of $165 million according to CelebrityNetWorth.com, which means he clearly doesn’t need another payday. He turns 40 years old on Mar. 24, so the odds of him playing appear to be slim to none.
