Peyton Manning Siblings: All About Eli and Cooper Archibald Manning

Peyton Williams Manning, born on March 24, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, stands as one of the most iconic figures in American football history.

As a legendary quarterback, he revolutionized the position with his unparalleled intelligence, precision passing, and leadership on the field.

Raised in a family deeply immersed in the sport, his father, Archie Manning, was a celebrated NFL quarterback, Peyton emerged as a prodigy from an early age.

He attended the University of Tennessee, where he excelled as a college standout, setting numerous records and earning national acclaim before being selected as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Over an illustrious 18-year professional career, Manning not only dominated statistically but also embodied the essence of professionalism, earning him the affectionate nickname “the Sheriff” for his commanding presence in the huddle.

Off the field, he has transitioned into a successful media personality, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, co-hosting the popular “ManningCast” with his brother Eli, while maintaining a low-key family life with his wife, Ashley, and their twin children, Marshall and Mosley.

Siblings

Peyton is the middle child of three brothers born to Archie and Olivia Manning, each leaving an indelible mark in their own right.

His older brother, Cooper Archibald Manning, born on March 6, 1974, in New Orleans, was the family’s first to show immense promise on the gridiron.

A standout wide receiver at Isidore Newman High School alongside a young Peyton at quarterback, Cooper’s collegiate dreams at the University of Mississippi were cut short by a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, a condition that narrowed his spine and pinched nerves, forcing him to retire from football before fully launching his career.

Undeterred, Cooper channeled his competitive spirit into business, rising as a principal and senior managing director of investor relations for AJ Capital Partners in the energy sector.

He has also ventured into television, co-hosting “College Bowl” with Peyton from 2021 to 2022 and contributing segments to Fox NFL Kickoff, including his own “Manning on the Street.”

Peyton’s younger brother, Elisha Nelson “Eli” Manning, born on January 3, 1981, in New Orleans, carved out a storied path that mirrored yet complemented his sibling’s.

Drafted first overall in 2004 by the San Diego Chargers but traded to the New York Giants, Eli spent his entire 16-season NFL tenure with the Giants, retiring in 2020.

Known for his clutch performances and understated demeanor, Eli led the Giants to improbable Super Bowl victories in 2008 and 2012, both against the undefeated New England Patriots, earning Super Bowl MVP honors each time and etching his name as one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in league history.

Like Peyton, Eli was a two-time Pro Bowler and threw for over 57,000 yards in his career.

Career

Selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 straight out of Tennessee, Manning wasted no time asserting himself, starting all 16 games as a rookie and shattering NFL records with 3,739 passing yards and 26 touchdowns—benchmarks that stood as rookie standards for years.

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His early years were a mix of brilliance and heartbreak; despite leading the Colts to nine playoff appearances in his first 10 seasons, the team endured four straight first-round exits from 1995 to 1999, including a crushing 38-31 wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

Yet Manning’s growth was meteoric: by 2004, he orchestrated an unprecedented offensive onslaught, throwing a then-record 49 touchdown passes and earning his second MVP award, propelling Indianapolis to a 12-4 record.

The pinnacle with the Colts arrived in the 2006 season, when Manning finally shed the playoff monkey off his back.

Guiding the team through a gauntlet that included victories over the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and New England Patriots, he delivered a masterful performance in Super Bowl XLI, outdueling Bears quarterback Rex Grossman for a 29-17 triumph and his first championship ring.

Injuries tested his mettle in the ensuing years—a severe neck issue sidelined him for the entire 2011 season after an NFL-record 208 consecutive starts—but Manning’s resilience shone through.

Signing with the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 2012, he revitalized a franchise, leading them to an 11-5 record and an AFC West title in his debut year.

His Broncos tenure peaked in 2013 with another MVP-caliber campaign, amassing 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, both single-season records at the time, en route to a 13-3 mark.

Though a heartbreaking 43-8 Super Bowl XLVIII loss to the Seattle Seahawks followed, Manning rebounded for one final glory in Super Bowl 50, where the Broncos’ defense carried a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, making him the first starting quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy with two different teams.

Retiring in 2016 after 266 games, Manning amassed 71,940 passing yards and 539 touchdowns.

Accolades

Mannig claimed a record five Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player awards, in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2013, more than any player in league history, reflecting seasons of statistical wizardry that redefined quarterback benchmarks.

Complementing those were two Offensive Player of the Year nods in 2004 and 2013, seven first-team All-Pro selections, and 14 Pro Bowl invitations, tying him for third all-time among quarterbacks.

His postseason prowess earned him Super Bowl XLI MVP honors after a commanding 247-yard, one-touchdown outing against the Bears, while his overall career stats, third all-time in passing yards and touchdowns, include pioneering marks like most 4,000-yard seasons (14), single-season passing yards (5,477 in 2013), and touchdown passes (55 in 2013).

Manning’s excellence was recognized institutionally as well: inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 on his first ballot with a mere 13-second deliberation, he joined the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Fame in 2017 and the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 2021.

In 2019, he was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and his college legacy at Tennessee includes retirement of his No. 16 jersey, a street named Peyton Manning Pass outside Neyland Stadium, and enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Additional accolades encompass the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2005 for his off-field contributions through the PeyBack Foundation, the Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete in 1997, and the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards during his senior year.