The Great Peyton Manning announced his retirement on Monday March 7th after 18 years, displaying one the best performances football has ever seen. With numerous records broken, multiple MVPs, and even an adduction to the Hall of Fame, Manning gave a very humble and emotional address at his press conference in Englewood, Colorado.
“ There is just something about 18 years. Eighteen is a good number and today I retire from pro football,” explained Peyton. Peyton Manning, the famous #18, is one of my personal favorite NFL quarterbacks for multiple reasons. After many years in the league, with quite a good reputation of an excellent arm, he displays so much humbleness for what he has accomplished. This is shown in his speech multiple times. I think I would prefer a humble quarterback with a humble speech than a stuck up quarterback with a selfish speech. He also has shown so much determination that he could not be stopped to come and finish the season, he proved to us all that you can come back after lots of hard work and prove us wrong! He displays his spiritual beliefs with confidence and bravery during this time and age. I also mainly admire that after each game, especially against Tom Brady, he would go up to the quarterback and give them a firm handshake. During his speech he was emotional as he reminisced over his family and his most prominent memories over the many years, along with lots of thanks to many coaches that made a impact on his craft. Including Jim Mora, Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, John Fox, and Gary Kubiak. There was an emotional thanks to his wife Ashley, kids, and extended family.
“There is no way to measure or properly express what a family like mine can mean. Mom, Dad, Copper, Eli, extended family you are the best. Ashley your support is a potent as motivator as any man can have,” addressed Manning. And others thank included the organizations of the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos. Along with the most important thanks I believe, was to the fans! The times he mainly got emotional when talking about family, coaches, close friends, his home town New Orleans, and– the game of football.
“When someone thoroughly exhausts an experience they can’t help but revere it. I revere football. So you don’t have to wonder if I’ll miss it. Absolutely, absolutely I will,” promised Peyton. Peyton also went on about many well-earned accomplishments with the Broncos in a humorous way, referencing what John Elway should have said to him when offering him the role of the quarterback. He would of agreed (air quotes) if Elway told him the Broncos are going to win over 50 games, win 4 straight division championship, lose only 3 division championships in four years with none being on the road, beat the Patriots in championship games, another MVP, go to a couple of Super Bowls, and the list goes on.
During the end of his speech he gave a hint of what’s going to happen next for him, okay not really a hint, but something he is convinced of. He is convinced that the ended of his football career is just the beginning of something brand new.
“Life isn’t shrinking for me, it’s morphing for me, it morphing into a whole new world of possibilities, ” spoke Manning. Peyton explained how he going to miss many things about this game, how the little things that occurred are becoming the bigger things in his life. One of the things he said he is going to miss, which I was quite surprised with, is shaking Tom Brady’s hand after playing game against him and the Patriots.
“I have fought the good fight and I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” He closed out his speech with an amazing choice of a bible verse, 2 Timothy 4:7. He used this verse to explain how he has finished his football race, fighting the good fight. Number 18 is hanging up his jersey after 18 accomplished years and hopefully he will continue to amaze us in new ways!
“God bless all of you and God bless football.” –Peyton Manning
If you want to see Manning’s full speech click the link below: http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/03/07/video-peyton-manning-holds-back-tears-retirement-speech
