Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—but at least Arch Manning is making his own rules. The Texas QB is set to take over as the Longhorns’ starter next season. But he isn’t ready to soak up the spotlight just yet, even after signing an NIL deal with Red Bull. Have you ever wondered why Arch Manning, despite coming from a high-profile sports family, didn’t immediately jump into chasing NIL deals like Shedeur Sanders? Well, it seems that his grandfather had different plans for him.

Well, Arch Manning has only made two starts in his first two seasons while backing up Quinn Ewers. And the young Manning knows he still has plenty to prove. That’s the reason Arch Manning kept NIL deals off the table until he locked in the starting job. Yes, you read that right. A move his grandpa, Archie Manning, apparently pushed for. Talking about it with ESPN host Marty Smith, Arch said, “I didn’t want to be the guy rolling in with all this money when we have guys like Jake Majors who have had 40 starts here and not making any. I’m taking all the money, so I wanted to kind of earn my money, work hard, get to know the players, and, you know, kind of earn my way up.”

Now we all know what family ties mean in the football world. Remember how Dylan Raiola skipped the big programs and went straight to Nebraska just because of his family legacy there?

However, after two years of waiting, Arch Manning’s finally about to step in as QB1 for Texas, and he’s not taking it for granted. At just 19, he’s already landed a massive NIL deal with Red Bull, which he apparently owes to his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning’s connections. And Red Bull’s no stranger to the sports world—they’ve built a huge empire with teams and NIL partnerships, representing athletes in everything from across the sport, plus owning soccer and racing teams. This Red Bull deal pushes his overall NIL valuation to a staggering $6.6 million, the highest ever seen in college and high school sports.

Talking about his recent milestone, Arch Manning said, “I really like this partnership. Everyone at Red Bull has been super nice to me and my family and I can’t wait to get it going.” It seems that redshirting in 2023 was a stroke of genius. It’s not just about massive NIL deals and being a top 2026 draft pick anymore; now, he’s being talked about as a potential Heisman contender this season. Finally, everything is falling into place for this talented young athlete. And why wouldn’t it? We all know what kind of exceptional genes he carries.

Arch Manning finds similarities with Archie Manning

Just when Arch Manning thought it was his time to shine, reality hit him hard. With Quinn Ewers heading to the NFL, all eyes are now on Manning, the 6’4″, 225 lbs QB2 who spent most of last season on the sidelines. Yeah, he stepped in when Quinn Ewers got injured and showed some flashes, but not everyone’s drinking the Manning Kool-Aid yet. The hype is real, but so are the doubts and immense pressure.

However, despite his limited action, Manning showcased his capabilities. As a redshirt freshman, he threw for 939 yards, 9 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. He also rushed for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns. Plus, let’s not forget his clutch fourth-down conversion in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. His talent is undeniable, which explains the excitement surrounding his future.

Being a Manning; the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli, and possessing the same excellence as his grandfather, Archie Manning, it’s no wonder the hype train is already rolling. Now, when it comes to his style, Arch Manning has inherited some qualities from his grandfather Archie.

He has the ability to move around, make plays, and use his athleticism to escape trouble, just like Archie did during his 13-year NFL career. As he said while talking to Marty Smith, “I think probably like my grandfather. He could run around, make plays, use a little more of his athleticism, but I like to take bits and pieces of everyone’s.” It’s evident that the Manning name has some serious weight, and Arch is ready to prove he can carry it.