If ‘grit’ had a poster boy, it’d look a lot like Peyton Manning‘s post-Super Bowl win. Former NFL fullback Chris Gronkowski’s seen his fair share of legends up close, but when we’re talking raw perseverance and football smarts, one name stands out—Peyton Manning. 

In an all-exclusive Essentially Sports interview on The Dual Threat Show with Brandon Guttman II, Gronkowski painted a vivid picture of Manning’s final years in the league, where every throw seemed like a battle, every game a war against his own body (his arm strength fading, fingers barely feeling the pigskin). Yet, Manning was the first guy to arrive at practice and the last to leave. “He was so beat up, but he’d be the first guy there and last guy to leave, doing whatever it took,” Gronkowski recalled. His determination wasn’t just about his love for the game; it was about his legacy, his need to match or surpass his brother Eli in the Super Bowl ring count. 

Manning’s intelligence on-field was unparalleled, and as Gronkowski puts it, if ‘grit’ had a name and face, it’d be Peyton Manning. To play alongside him, Broncos ex-fullback described it as an ‘absolute honor.’ Manning was essentially a coach in pads, orchestrating plays with a deep understanding of the game that few could match (except maybe Tom Brady). “I’m just doubling up on him; he’s basically a coach on the field to play with and an absolute honor. You’re that deep into it, and maybe you probably have someone like Tom Brady that’s at the level, but to know the game as a QB that played for many years really [Payton’s] strength. I’m sure Payton and Tom are both up there for pretty much every single category, I mean same with grit man like Tom 100% like insanity how long he lasted. I mean everything these guys did, I gotta say, incredible.”

While the Sheriff’s physical abilities waned, his mind became his greatest weapon. The Broncos didn’t win because Manning could out-throw every other QB. They won because he out-thought them. “We were winning games because his knowledge of the game was there,” Gronkowski explained during the Essentially Sports exclusive interview, painting a picture of a man who could see the game two, three steps ahead of everyone else. “I just watched so many games where you know they had to get it done and they would go to him, and it was like double coverage up the middle against the Broncos in the AFC Championship. To get to this first down with 30 seconds left and he just throws it up between two Defenders, and it’s like no freaking way a man could do it. It was amazing. He is amazing.”

But it wasn’t just the two-time Super Bowl champ’s knowledge with which he created history or his work ethic that left a mark. It was his grit, the way he refused to bow out quietly, the way he pushed his body beyond its limits. Gronkowski marveled at how Manning, even when clearly past his prime, commanded respect and inspired those around him. He was a leader who knew when to lean on his experience rather than his arm—and showed that leadership ain’t about being the loudest voice but about setting the standard through action.

From Manning’s standpoint, retiring as a champion wasn’t just about adding another ring to his collection (although matching Eli was a sweet bonus). It was about proving to himself and everyone else that he could still lead, still compete, and still win, despite the odds stacked against him. “He was just a different breed,” Chris Gronkowski reflected, clearly moved by the sheer will and tenacity Manning displayed.

In the NFL world where many focus on raw talent and explosive speed, Manning’s story reminds us that the game’s greatest often win not because of their physical gifts but because of their heart and their mind. To Gronkowski, Peyton Manning is the ultimate symbol of smarts and a relentless will to win—qualities he channels into his own life through business and fitness.

How Chris Gronkowski is crushing business and fitness 

Chris Gronkowski might not have had the longest NFL career, but he sure knows how to stay in the game—just in a different arena. After a short stint as a fullback, the 37-year-old’s taken his hustle off-field. He’s not letting those gridiron days define him, especially when there’s business to build and fitness goals to crush.

If you’ve scrolled through his IG, you’d see the former Broncos champ showing off his fitness regimen—kids and all. Picture this: a video of him doing push-ups with not one but two of his kids on his back. In the post, Gronkowski jokes about his little ‘weights’ getting heavy. “These boys are getting heavy. Try out this at home DIY weighted push-up. Not sure how much longer I’ll be able to do 20 reps with these guys,” he asserted. 

But it’s not all play and no work for this former athlete. Gronkowski took the same grit from his NFL days into the business world. His brand, Ice Shaker, even made a splash on Shark Tank, scoring big deals. And with Gronk Fitness, he’s all about delivering top-notch workout gear to everyone! Whether it’s crushing reps with his kids or acing it in business, this Gronk’s got game!

Catch all the behind-the-scenes vibes from the EssentiallySports’ Dual Threat Show with Brandon Guttman II as Chris Gronkowski joined us on the latest episode. We’re diving deep into his take on Peyton Manning being the ultimate legend. Wondering how this stirs things up? Hit up every episode of the ES x BG12 Show on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned!