Let’s get something out of the way: the Denver Broncos’ unlikely victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 was not about Peyton Manning. Sure, he was there, but he threw for just 141 yards and an interception, good for a passer rating of 56.6. That’s a hair better than that of Panthers counterpart Cam Newton, but still one of the worst quarterback performances from a Super Bowl-winning team in the game’s long history.
Denver’s win was more about Von Miller, the game’s MVP. It was about C.J. Anderson, who ran for 90 yards and a touchdown under the most intense spotlight in sports. It was about DeMarcus Ware, who contributed two sacks. These men did more to lift the Broncos organization to its third Super Bowl win than the team’s de facto leader, both on Sunday night and over the course of the season.
And yet, I’m going to sit here and write 500 words on Peyton Manning, if only because Sunday may have been the last time we ever get to see him take a snap in the National Football League. He’s yet to decide whether he wants to retire, but given his diminished performance, it’s a strong possibility. Besides, he would feel good about walking away after having just won it all — it’s a luxury that few other football players get to experience. For that reason, I offer a brief eulogy for Manning’s career.
Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback to ever pick up a football. It was true before Super Bowl 50, and it’s true today. He didn’t just dominate nearly every time he took the field, he changed the meaning of what it meant to be an NFL quarterback.
It’s difficult to sum up 17 spectacular seasons in the space provided, but much of Manning’s legacy was forged during a three-year period from 2004 through 2006. In 2004, he set a new single-season record with 49 touchdown passes, a mark that’s been surpassed on just two occasions: once by Tom Brady, once by Manning himself (albeit in a much more pass-heavy league). He led the league in passer rating in each of those three years. His Indianapolis Colts were a juggernaut, going 38-10 and beating the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Over the course of his career, Manning came to be regarded as the standard of excellence at the quarterback position. Even today, he is renowned for his play-calling skills, and his football mind is regarded as one of the best in the industry. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in both passer yards and touchdown passes, and he’s tied for fourth in completion percentage.
I can already hear the naysayers: yes, they concede, Manning was great, but they claim that his postseason record pales in comparison to those of Tom Brady and Joe Montana. I just don’t see the argument. The playoffs matter, but to reduce one’s legacy to a few games against the best of the best is foolish. Week in and week out, Manning combined incredible skill with an unbelievable ability to lead. The end result was a career record of 200-92.
In some ways, it’s inconsequential that Super Bowl 50 wasn’t about him. Thanks to nearly two decades of work to perfect his craft, Peyton Manning is simply unforgettable.
