Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. He’s a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Broncos Wire has mentioned Manning’s looming eligibility multiple on social media and seemingly every time we do, at least one fan comments, ‘He’s going to go in as a Colt!’
That’s simply not accurate.
The NFL does not require players to pick one team to represent if they played for multiple teams during their careers. Manning won’t have to choose between going in as a Colt or a Bronco — he’ll enter Canton as a Colt and a Bronco.
Though he spent the majority of his career in Indianapolis, Manning has the same amount of Super Bowl appearances (two) and wins (one) with both Denver and the Colts.
The Broncos helped Manning win his second ring and he still lives in the Denver area and he’s helping coach up young QB Drew Lock. Manning clearly views himself as a Bronco as well as a Colt.
Two years ago, safety Brian Dawkins forgot to mention his three years in Denver during his Hall of Fame speech (he later apologized for that unintentional oversight). Former outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware won’t make the same mistake.
Ware spent the majority of his career with the Cowboys but he won a Super Bowl with the Broncos. He’ll remember Denver during his future Hall of Fame speech and he’ll be enshrined as both a Cowboy and a Bronco.
Manning and Ware have similar situations. Yes, they spent the majority of their careers outside of Denver, but winning a Super Bowl with the Broncos is a key part of their respective resumes.
Plenty of Pro Football Hall of Famers played for multiple teams.
Terrell Owens‘ Hall of Fame page lists him as a “49er, Bill, Bengal, Cowboy and Eagle.” He’s perhaps best-known for his time in San Francisco but he’s not listed simply as a 49er. Hall of Famers aren’t assigned to one team in Canton unless they only played for just one team.
So please, stop saying Manning’s going in as a Colt. He’s going in both as a Colt and as a Bronco, as he should. He’s the only starting quarterback in NFL history to win Super Bowls with two different teams.
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