 Coming out of the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning made an impressive
debut in the NFL after he was the number one draft pick in April 1998. As the Indianapolis Colts'
starting quarterback, Manning holds numerous NFL and club records including the Colts' single
season record for passing yards and led his team to the best one season turn around in league
history. He has also been selected to two consecutive Pro Bowls. Peyton Manning completed his
third professional season leading the league in yardage, completions and attempts and in the
process, broke the legendary Johnny Unitas' 1959 Colts' record for touchdown passes in a season.
Peyton led the Colts to their first AFC Divisional Championship in 1999 and was named the AFC
Player of the Year.
Peyton Manning is the only player in NFL history to pass for more than 3,000
yards in each of his first three seasons and one of only three NFL players ever to reach 100
touchdown passes and 15,000 yards in four seasons and has also started more games than any other
NFL quarterback in his first four years.
Peyton Manning became the poster boy for college and amateur athletics by
opting to stay in school for a final year of eligibility rather than moving on to the NFL. The
All-American earned his undergraduate degree in only three years, finished number one in his
major and led his team to the SEC Championship.
A leader off the field as well as on, Peyton Manning established the PeyBack
Foundation to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that
provide leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. The PeyBack Foundation makes
sizable donations to various organizations throughout the year including tens of thousands of
dollars in educational scholarships, and in direct assistance grants to children and families in need.
Peyton Manning is actively involved in numerous other charitable organizations.
He is personally involved with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) helping abused and
neglected children and is spokesperson for the National Football Foundation's Play It Smart
educational program in high schools across the country. Through the Manning Passing Academy,
Peyton Manning and his family also distribute funds to Special Olympics of Louisiana, The
Fellowship for Christian Athletes and Bridge House. Due in large part to his work in the community,
Peyton was named by The Indianapolis Business Journal as one of the state's "Top 40 Leaders Under
40." In 2000 and 2001 Peyton was also ranked in the Forbes Celebrity 100 as one of the nation's
most powerful entertainers and athletes.
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