Updated 14.25
After dominating the NFL for over a decade - Peyton Manning will go out a champion.
In a career that started when he was drafted to the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 with the first pick; Manning has set all kinds of NFL and franchise records - but he nearly retired with a history of choking in the post-season. Before this February, he had only one Superbowl to his name. Before this season, he had a losing record in the post-season.
Despite his declining play in 2015, Manning was part of a Denver Broncos team that shocked the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, and the Carolina Panthers on their way to Manning's second Super Bowl. It was the right time to retire. With his 40th birthday coming up this month, Peyton had yet to make an official announcement on his future
But now it looks like he will. The quarterback has called for a news conference on Monday. According to ESPN, it will be to ride off into the sunset as a champion. To get to go out on his terms the way so many others don't get a chance to.
BREAKING: Broncos' Peyton Manning to announce retirement in news conference Monday, source tells @mortreport pic.twitter.com/8ZpFndLJd7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 6, 2016
The Denver Broncos have since jumped the gun to confirm the news of Manning's retirement.
Manning will join fellow 1998 draftee Charles Woodson in retirement, and with 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck now without a team, there are no players from that 1998 draft left in the league at the moment.
Peyton Manning was one of those names that transcended his sport. You didn't have to know NFL to know the name. Now that mantle rests on Tom Brady and a select few others.
Manning will retire with the NFL records for most passing yards, most touchdown passes, most career wins, the most TDs in a season, and at least 64 other records.
