Peyton Manning, the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback, will announce his retirement on Monday, March 7, 2016. During his 18-year career, No. 18 set numerous NFL records and became the all-time Colts leader in career wins, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, pass completions, and passing yards.
Here’s a look back at Manning’s storied NFL career, which included 14 seasons in Indianapolis and four in Denver.
Relive the biggest moments in Peyton Manning's career:#ThankYouPeytonhttps://t.co/BLIBBZpI1q
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 6, 2016
April 18, 1998: Selected first overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts out of the University of Tennessee
August 8, 1998: First career pass thrown in preseason was a touchdown to Marvin Harrison against the Seattle Seahawks. The pass would foreshadow great things to come from the duo.
1998-1999 Season: The Colts finished 3-13 in Manning’s rookie year. He set the NFL record for touchdowns by a rookie but threw more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26).
September 6, 1998: Manning threw his first career touchdown pass in a 24-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins. It was the first of 112 touchdown connections for the duo.
1999-2000 Season: The Colts rebounded with a 13-3 record, which was the best single-season turnaround in NFL history at the time; Manning tossed 26 touchdown passes (and 15 interceptions) while throwing for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career
The Colts won their division (then the AFC East) and hosted the first home playoff game in Indianapolis Colts history; they fell in the divisional round to the Tennessee Titans, 19-16, at the RCA Dome.
2000-2001 Season: The Colts won their final three games of the season to make it to the playoffs, finishing with a 10-6 record. Manning and the Colts fell to the Miami Dolphins 23-17 in overtime in postseason play.
2001-2002 Season: The Colts finished with their first losing record since Manning’s rookie campaign after Edgerrin James tore his ACL in Week Six. The team ended up a disappointing 6-10, although Manning had a good season offensively with 4,131 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
After the season was over, the Colts fired head coach Jim Mora (this was also the season of Mora’s infamous “Playoffs?!” rant)
2002-2003 Season: With new head coach Tony Dungy in place, the Colts finished with a 10-6 record and made the playoffs. Manning had one of his worst playoff performances, passing for just 137 yards against the New York Jets as the Colts stared down another playoff disappointment, losing 41-0.
2003-2004 Season: Manning earned his first MVP Award while leading the Colts to a 12-4 record. He passed for 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns.
November 3, 2003: A rivalry is born. Manning led the Colts back from a 31-10 deficit against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. With time running out, the Colts moved the ball to the one yard line. Willie McGinest stuffed Edgerrin James on fourth down to preserve the victory for New England.
January 4, 2004: Manning notched his first career playoff win as the Colts blew out the Denver Broncos 41-10 in the Wild Card Round.
January 11, 2004: The Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-31 during a game in which neither team punted. It marked Manning’s first career road playoff win.
January 18, 2004: Manning and the Colts’ high-flying offense went up against the New England Patriots in Foxborough. Manning threw four interceptions and endured four sacks in a 24-14 loss in the AFC Championship Game.
2004-2005 Season: The Colts lost to the Patriots to open the year but rebounded for a 12-4 season. Manning broke Dan Marino’s NFL single-season record for touchdown passes with 49. His stats for the year: 4,557 passing yards, 49 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. He was named NFL MVP for the second year in a row.
Despite the regular season accolades, the Colts would again run into the Patriots, losing 20-3 in snowy Foxborough in the Divisional Round.
2005-2006 Season: The Colts rattled off 13 straight wins to start the season with what was arguably the best team of Manning’s career. The team finished with a 14-2 record and clinched a first-round playoff bye.
The Colts lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild game at the RCA Dome that included a goal line fumble by Jerome Bettis, a game-saving tackle of cornerback Nick Harper by Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and a field goal attempt from kicker Mike Vanderjagt that didn’t even come close.
2006-2007 Season: Though inconsistent throughout the season, the Colts finished 12-4, good enough for the third seed in the NFL Playoffs. Manning and the Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round and edged the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 in an upset road win.
Indy then hosted the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game at the RCA Dome. After trailing 21-6 at halftime, Manning rallied the team to 32 points in the second half and a 38-34 win, punching the Colts’ ticket to Super Bowl XLI. Marlin Jackson sealed the game with an interception of Tom Brady.
The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in the Super Bowl; Manning was named Super Bowl MVP.
2007-2008 Season: Manning threw six interceptions in a game against the San Diego Chargers. He notched his 100th career victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and led the team to an AFC South championship. The Colts clinched the No. 2 seed in the playoffs and lost in the divisional round to the San Diego Chargers, 28-24.
September 5, 2007: St. Vincent Children’s Hospital becomes Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent.
2008-2009 Season: Manning struggled early in the season after having surgery for an infected bursa sac in his left knee. He missed most of training camp and sat out all preseason games. Despite the slow start, he passed for 4,002 yards and 27 touchdowns to earn his third MVP award. The Colts ran up against the San Diego Chargers yet again, losing their playoff game in overtime.
September 7, 2008: The Colts opened the season at their new home, Lucas Oil Stadium, often called “The House That Peyton Built.” They lost to the Chicago Bears 29-13.
2009-2010 Season: With new coach Jim Caldwell at the helm after Tony Dungy’s retirement, the Colts were off to a 14-0 start. After securing the AFC’s top seed, the Colts rested their starters and lost their final two games. Manning earned his fourth NFL MVP, passing for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns.
In the playoffs, the Colts topped the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round and needed a comeback to beat the New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game. In Super Bowl XLIV, the Colts jumped out to a lead against the New Orleans Saints, but an onside kick recovery and a Manning interception for a TD return turned the game around. The Colts lost 31-17.
March 3, 2010: Manning has surgery to relieve pain caused by a pinched nerve in his neck.
2010-2011 Season: Manning and the Colts finished with a 10-6 record, good enough for a playoff berth and a home game in the Wild Card Round. Manning passed for a then-career-high 4,700 yards and matched his previous season’s total with 33 touchdowns.
January 8, 2011: The Colts lost to the New York Jets 17-16 in the Wild Card round. Colts fans at the time had no idea this would end up being Manning’s last game for the team.
February 15, 2011: Indianapolis Colts placed the franchise tag on Manning.
May 23, 2011: Manning had surgery to repair a bulging disk in his neck.
July 30, 2011: Manning signed a 5-year, $90 million deal that was supposed to make him a Colt for the rest of his life. It included a $28 million roster bonus if Manning was with the Colts on March 8, 2012.
September 7, 2011: Colts ruled Manning out for the season opener against the Houston Texans. Manning underwent another procedure on his neck (a “single-level anterior fusion”). His streak of 227 consecutive starts came to an end.
January 1, 2012: The Colts finished 2-14 on the season with Manning sidelined for the year. The team ended up with the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and would eventually select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
January 2, 2012: Team fired GM Bill Polian.
January 11, 2012: Ryan Grigson hired as new general manager.
January 17, 2012: Jim Caldwell fired as head coach.
January 25, 2012: Chuck Pagano, former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, hired as head coach.
March 7, 2012: The Indianapolis Colts released Manning before he was due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8. During a tearful news conference with owner Jim Irsay, Manning told fans, “Thank you for letting me be your quarterback.”
“Times change, circumstances change, and that’s the reality of playing in the NFL,” Manning said, fighting tears. “This has not been easy for Jim (Irsay), and it has certainly not been easy for me.”
He continued, “This town and this team means so much to me. It truly has been an honor to play in Indianapolis. I do love it here. I love the fans, and I will always enjoy having played for such a great team. I will leave the Colts with nothing but good thoughts and gratitude to Jim, the organization, my teammates, the media and especially the fans.”
March 20, 2012: Manning reached an agreement with the Denver Broncos on a 5-year deal worth $96 million.
2012-2013 Season: Manning led the Broncos to a 13-3 record. In the playoffs, the team lost in double overtime to the Baltimore Ravens, the eventual Super Bowl champions. Manning was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
2013-2014 Season: Manning won his fifth NFL MVP while leading the Broncos to another 13-3 season. He passed for 5.477 yards and 55 touchdowns. The Broncos beat the Chargers and Patriots on their way to the Super Bowl. They fell in Super Bowl XLVIII to the Seattle Seahawks, 43-8.
October 20, 2013: Manning returned to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since leaving Indianapolis. The team presented a video highlighting Manning’s career with the Colts, and the former Colts quarterback became emotional as the crowd cheered.
“It’s something I’ll always remember, and I’m very grateful for that,” Manning said of the ovation.
2014-2015 Season: Manning led the Broncos to another playoff berth with a 12-4 record. The team lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to the Indianapolis Colts.
October 19, 2014: Manning passed Brett Favre to become the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns. His 509th career TD pass went to Demaryius Thomas.
2015-2016 Season: Manning led the Broncos to a 12-4 record, but the Broncos’ defense was the true star of the season. He broke the NFL’s all-time passing yards record held by Brett Favre during a game on November 14.
Injuries hobbled Manning throughout the season, and the Broncos used backup Brock Osweiler in Manning’s place. Manning returned late in the season during a comeback win in Week 17 to seal Denver’s position as the top seed in the AFC.
The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and Manning’s old nemesis, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, to reach Super Bowl 50. The Broncos’ dominating defense keyed the win, with Manning going 13 for 23 for 141 yards and an interception. He was sacked five times on the way to his second Super Bowl championship.
March 6, 2016: The Denver Broncos revealed that Manning would announce his retirement during a news conference on Monday, March 7.
