About
Archie Manning is an American former football quarterback who played 13 seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, the Houston Oilers, and the Minnesota Vikings. He is the father of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning.
Manning was born in Mississippi, and spent much of his childhood playing on football, basketball, baseball, and track teams. He was selected in the Major League Baseball draft four times, but his plans were put on hold when his father, Buddy, committed suicide in 1969. He wanted to drop out of college and work to support his mother and sister, but his mother persuaded him to continue to pursue his rising football career.
At the University of Mississippi, Manning was the starting quarterback for three years. He threw for 4,753 yards and 31 touchdowns throughout his college career, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Upon leaving Ole Miss, Manning was the number two pick in the 1971 NFL draft, and the number one pick of the New Orleans Saints. He spent 15 years with the Saints, setting team records, playing in two Pro Bowls, and becoming the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame.
Post-NFL, Manning served as an analyst with the Saints’ radio broadcast, and worked as a commentator for CBS Sports’ college football broadcasts. He also worked with his sons to host the Manning Passing Academy, a summer program which brings young players together to work with high school coaches and college players. In 2013, Manning became an inaugural member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
Manning currently serves in public relations and consulting positions for several prominent companies including Gatorade, Liberty Mutual, and Direct TV, and is involved with a variety of charitable causes. He is a charismatic speaker, and is regularly booked for corporate events.
