Peyton Manning Growing Up

Peyton Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 26, 1976, with football in his blood. His dad, Archie Manning, was a star quarterback with the New Orleans Saints and was the color commentator for the team's radio station. When Peyton Manning was 15, his dad took him to an off-season practice with the Saints. Peyton joined the workouts with the team, and even threw to the Saints' receivers as they ran drills. It was a sign that Peyton had a big career in football ahead of him. As a kid, Peyton Manning played baseball, basketball and football with his two brothers, Cooper and Eli. But when Manning entered high school, he decided to focus on football. Peyton was the starting quarterback for Isidore Newman High and passed for 7,207 yards, with 92 touchdowns over three seasons.

Peyton Manning Hits Tennessee

After his outstanding high school career, Peyton Manning decided to play college football at the University of Tennessee. In four seasons as the starting QB for the Volunteers, Peyton Manning set 33 school records and he became the first Tennessee player to have his jersey retired. In 1998, Peyton Manning was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, as the top college football player, and was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1998 NFL Draft. That same year, Peyton married his college girlfriend, Ashley.

Peyton Manning In the NFL

Since becoming the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning has put up mind-boggling numbers. He's the first quarterback to throw more than 4,000 yards in five straight seasons and he's been to the Pro Bowl six times. The big blemish on Peyton Manning's pro career is that he hasn't yet won a Super Bowl for the Colts. In 2003 and 2004, Peyton Manning won the NFL MVP but couldn't get the Colts past the New England Patriots in the playoffs. But in 2005, the Colts go into the playoffs as favorites after starting the season with 13 straight victories. Could Manning and the Colts finally taste a Super Bowl victory in 2006?

Peyton Manning - Did U Know?

• Peyton Manning's neighbors when he was growing up in New Orleans included novelist Anne Rice and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.
• Peyton Manning's brother, Eli Manning, is the starting quarterback for the New York Giants.
• Peyton Manning helped establish the Peyback Foundation - an organization designed to help underpriviledged children all over America.