To nobody’s surprise, Peyton Manning became the third former Tennessee football player to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame Saturday night. Manning is one of eight members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
The last member of the class to be announced, Manning received the news before it was revealed. He was surprised by many of his former coaches in the end zone at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. after heading there for what he thought was a film session for his ESPN+ show “Peyton’s Places.”
Meeting him there were Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Gary Kubiak, and his head coach and offensive coordinator on Rocky Top, Phillip Fulmer and David Cutcliffe. The Denver Broncos tweeted out the moment it happened.
Peyton Manning thought he was just filming a new promo for Peyton’s Places.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 7, 2021
His former coaches had another idea.
An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Peyton Manning’s @ProFootballHOF surprise: pic.twitter.com/e98n0PPjiS
Playing the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2011 and the Broncos from 2012 to 2015, Peyton Manning won a record five regular season MVPs. He also won two Super Bowl championships, one with each team, appeared in four Super Bowls and earned a Super Bowl MVP.
Upon his retirement, he was the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, since surpassed by Tom Brady and Drew Brees. However, Manning still holds the regular season record for passing yards and touchdowns, which he set in 2013, his final MVP season.
With his induction, Manning follows Doug Atkins and Reggie White as the two former Vols to be inducted. He played at UT from 1994 to 1997 and remains the school’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, posting a 39-6 record and winning an SEC Championship in 1997.
Ironically, Manning’s career is intertwined with Charles Woodson, who edged him out for the Heisman Trophy in an upset in 1997. Woodson is also a member of the 2021 Hall of Fame class, as he retired at the end of the 2015 season, just like Manning.
Obviously, few people have the legendary status in NFL lore the way Peyton Manning does, and that also holds true for Rocky Top. His Hall of Fame honor is well-deserved. This is something everybody saw coming.