Peyton Manning congratulates Todd Helton on Hall of Fame nod

“Was an honor to be your backup, an honor to be your fan, and it’s an honor to be your friend,” Peyton Manning told Todd Helton.

From one Hall of Famer to another, game recognizes game. For Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, his former cross-town Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton’s election to the Baseball Hall of Fame, it means a little bit more.

Helton and Manning were football teammates at the University of Tennessee. Believe it or not, Helton was actually Tennessee’s starting quarterback for a brief time in 1994, before suffering an injury that would pave the way for Manning to take the starting job — and a Hall-of-Fame career career from that point on.

Helton went on to have a stellar 17-year career with the Colorado Rockies, who selected him eighth overall in the 1995 MLB draft. After Manning took the reins as a starter for the Volunteers, he was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1998 NFL draft.

Manning and Helton shared a sports home again when Manning signed with the Broncos prior to the 2012 season. Helton finished his playing career with the Rockies in 2013.

Manning congratulated Helton on Instagram when Helton passed the 75% threshold needed to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.