Rumors have circulated that the Indianapolis Colts have spent much of January pursuing Peyton Manning for the team’s front office, and Jon Gruden as a possible head coach. The team was reportedly unsuccessful wooing Gruden, but according to Jay Glazer of FOX, there’s still a possibility that Colts owner Jim Irsay could convince Manning to come on board.
Peyton Manning could land front office job with Colts
Jon Gruden reportedly turned down a coaching job with the Colts, but Peyton Manning could run the front office soon.
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After an 8-8 season in 2016, Irsay elected not to part ways with general manager Ryan Grigson or coach Chuck Pagano, but has seemingly made a push to replace both. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Gruden “resisted overtures” from Irsay and elected to stay in television rather than take over coaching duties with the Colts.
But Glazer says Irsay is still hopeful that Manning could come on board, even if it’s a long shot.
Manning, 40, was the No. 1 overall selection for the Colts in the 1998 NFL Draft and compiled a 141-67 record as the team’s starting quarterback. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in every major passing category and led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLI before eventually finishing his career with four seasons with the Denver Broncos, earning another ring with a win in Super Bowl 50.
While in Denver, Manning had a 45-12 record as a starter for a team built by Broncos executive vice president and general manager John Elway, the team’s No. 1 overall selection in the 1983 NFL Draft and all-time leading passer.
Manning retired from the NFL after the 2015 season and was reportedly pursued by CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC for his post-football career, but turned down the television offers.
A career in football like the one being offered by Irsay could be more up Manning’s alley and could be an escape from a Grigson era that has tailed after a strong start.
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