Peyton Manning broke a lot of NFL records throughout his 18-year NFL career. After passing for over 71,000 yards and throwing 539 touchdowns, Manning retired after the 2015 season as a Super Bowl champion and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
These days, Manning and his younger brother, Eli, hosts “ManningCast,” the popular show that gives fans an alternate broadcast of Monday Night Football. The Manning Brothers host the show, offer commentary on the game, and are joined by high-profile guests throughout each episode.
To promote the first episode of “ManningCast,” Manning was a guest on Monday’s “Pat McAfee Show,” where he discussed one of his NFL records.
You know, rookie quarterbacks, it’s always a little struggle with me; I would like to get that interception record that I hold broken,” Manning said. “I don’t want (Denver Broncos rookie quarterback) Bo Nix to break it. I don’t want Bo Nix to break it, but you know if a quarterback in Washington (Jayden Daniels) or Chicago (Caleb Williams) wants to break it….I’m still pulling for them, I’m a quarterback fan, but I got to get that one off my resume.”
Manning threw an NFL rookie-record 28 interceptions back in 1998.
“Here’s my message to coaches. I’m a big Daniels fan. I like Williams. I like (Patriots QB) Drake Maye. (Vikings QB J.J.) McCarthy is going to be a good player, so is Falcons QB Michael) Penix. But these guys that are starting this year, Bo, Daniels, Williams, if they struggle early, leave him in there. Don’t take him out because that’s the only way you’re going to get to 28 interceptions.”
We think Manning was joking — sort of. He surely would like to see someone break that record, but he does root for all quarterbacks.
In Week 1, Williams and Daniels did not throw an interception, but Nix did throw two.
Nowadays, it’s unlikely a coach would leave a rookie quarterback in the lineup long enough for them to throw 28 interceptions, much to Manning’s chagrin.