The legendary quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have seemed to have taken somewhat similar paths in their post-retirement careers. Both have delved into broadcasting, with Peyton and his brother Eli hosting the popular “Manningcast” on ESPN, and Tom Brady recently signing a lucrative deal with Fox Sports. They’ve also both ventured into cross-sports ventures, with Peyton being named the 2024 Ambassador of Golf for the PGA Tour.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady has made headlines with his investments in electric boat racing and car racing teams. However, he’s not stopping there – he also wants to own part of the Las Vegas Raiders football team. Recently, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also hyped that “progress is being made” on this potential ownership deal, turning the spotlight on Peyton Manning and his own post-retirement plans. However, this time, Peyton’s vision for his future seems to differ from Brady’s.

Peyton Manning likes to be an ambassador for the Denver Broncos

In a recent interview with 9sports, Peyton dismissed the idea of owning an NFL team, stating it’s “not anywhere on my radar.” Instead, he sees himself continuing to be an “ambassador for the Broncos, Colts, University of Tennessee” —the teams he played before. Interestingly, this interview took place just after Peyton received the Mizel Award from a Denver-based institute, recognizing his commitment to social justice and community engagement.

Now, Peyton’s deep connection to the Denver Broncos becomes quite evident. He also shared, “Obviously, living here I get to go to all Broncos games.” Moreover, his children do play in their facility a “couple of times a week” and jokingly added that he brings “snacks over there.” “But great access. I still have my key fob that still works from when I played” he quipped, showcasing his bond with the Broncos.  He also added how “living here in Denver” made him “do some stuff with the Broncos, the sponsors” and he “still feel an attachment.” Thus despite not having an official title with the Broncos, Peyton continues to support the team in various ways.

Peyton’s association with the Broncos team

Peyton Manning obviously shares a special bond with the Denver Broncos, as it is the team he played his final games with and won a Super Bowl. Even after retiring, he chose to remain in Denver and maintains a close relationship with the team, particularly with the ownership group under Rob Walton. It appears that the Broncos also value Peyton’s input and seek his approval on major decisions. Although not officially employed by the Broncos, Peyton’s influence on their roster is undeniable.

He’s a regular fixture at home games, occasionally shows up at practices, and offers his insights on the quarterback position. Even before getting the Mizel Award, Peyton was hopeful about the Broncos’ quarterbacks. He said, “It sounds like they’ve got a great competition over there,” while talking about Bo Nix & Co.

He also reflected on his love for coach Sean Payton’s offensive-friendly system in Broncos and even confessed that it’s the kind of system “I’d like to play in.” It seems like Peyton Manning secretly wishes he could still be playing quarterback for the Broncos, rather than coaching or owning the team.