The list of Peyton Manning’s achievements, in the NFL, continues to grow. At 4 times, he holds the record for most consecutive seasons of passing over 4,000 yards. At 6 times, he holds the record for total number of seasons passing for over 4,000 yards. At 121.1, he holds the record for the highest quarterback passing rating in one season. At 3 times, he’s the record holder for consecutive years leading the league in passing yardage, and he’s the all-time career leader in passing yardage.
Formative Years
The article, “Peyton Manning”, gives his birthplace as New Orleans, Louisiana, and birth date as March 24, 1976. His father, Archie, was an NFL quarterback in the 1970’s, and early 1980’s. In high school, Peyton Manning also played basketball, and baseball, but football was his favorite. He has both an older and a younger brother, and the three of them grew up playing football together. Although he was the one who took the sport the most seriously, spending hours studying tapes of his father’s college and professional career.
High School
He became the starting quarterback of his high school team when he was a sophomore, and took his team to the semi-finals of class 2A that year. He was starting quarterback his junior, and senior year, and in his high school career passed for over 7,200 yards, and completed 59.4 percent of his passes. Gatorade chose Manning as the National High School player of the year, when he was a senior.
He went to the University of Tennessee, and before moving on campus diligently studied tapes of Coach Phillip Fulmer’s style of football; so, he’d be familiar with the system. Manning took over as starting quarterback his freshman year, and led the Volunteers to a win in the Gator Bowl. In addition, he led the team to the post season the next three years.
While at Tennessee, Manning set 33 passing records including the all-time passing leader. He threw for 11,201 yards, 863 completions and 89 touchdowns. He also set Southeast Conference records in passing yards, completed passes and completion percentage. In his senior year, Manning won the Davy O’Brian and Johnny Unitas awards as the best college quarterback in the nation.
Professional Football
In 1998, the Indianapolis Colts chose Manning as the number one draft choice. As most new National Football League quarterbacks he struggled with the transition from college ball, but his dedication, and perseverance, paid off. He studied game tapes until late at night, and once said, “I’ve never left the field saying I could have done more to get ready. That gives me peace of mind.” Tony Dungy, who was then the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, said, “I’ve never seen a guy with so much ability, and the dedication to match.” Nevertheless, Manning’s first year as the Colt’s quarterback they went 3-13.
However, over the next few years he mastered the game, and led the Colts to the division championship five times. In 2003 and 2004, Manning was the NFL’s player of the year, becoming only the third player in NFL history to win the award in consecutive years. In 2004, he broke Dan Marino’s record of 48 touchdown passes. In 2005, Manning was Sporting News player of the year, and won the ESPY award for best NFL player. Finally, in the 2006-2007 season, he won that elusive Super Bowl ring.
Off the field, he uses the wealth and personal fame football gives him for humanitarian purposes. He heads the Pey Back foundation, which provides life opportunities for at risk children.
Encyclopedia of World Biography: Peyton Manning: notable biographies.com
