Peyton Manning holds numerous NFL passing records, including the record for touchdown passes in a single season (49 in 2004) and consecutive seasons with over 4,000 yards passing (6 from 1999 through 2004.). He also holds most school passing records at the University of Tennessee.

Manning was selected first overall in the 1998 draft and has started every game in his NFL career, missing only one snap due to injury and many others due to large leads. He was the NFL co-MVP in 2003, sharing the honor with then Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. In 2004, Manning became the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time, signing a $99.2m contract for seven years with a $34.5m signing bonus, which averages out to $14.17m annually. Under the contract, Manning is also eligible to earn an extra $19m in incentives.

Manning is widely viewed as an elite NFL quarterback, and some sportswriters and scouts already consider him a future Hall of Fame inductee.  He is the son of former New Orleans Saints QB Archie Manning, and the older brother of current NY Giants QB Eli Manning.