Getty Multiple league sources believe the Colts have set up a framework that makes Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis as a general manager a possibility.
It was a bit under 12 years between the retirement of John Elway and his return to the Denver Broncos as a general manager. Elway would go on to sign Peyton Manning, leading to an eventual Super Bowl victory and adding to their legacies. Manning and the Indianapolis Colts could now be poised to head down a similar path, as two league sources told Heavy Sports NFL insider Matt Lombardo in Week 10.
Now about six and a half years since his 2016 retirement, a general manager role could potentially be available to Manning in Indianapolis, if he wants it. With the Colts hiring Manning’s former center Jeff Saturday as their head coach, despite minimal coaching experience, many around the league were left scratching their heads.
While the hiring of Saturday was a shocking development, league sources seemed more surprised that general manager Chris Ballard still had a job. But it could be setting up an even more intriguing scenario.
Peyton Manning Could Return to Colts as GM
“This sets up perfectly for Peyton Manning to take over in a John Elway-type general manager role after this season,” an AFC scouting director told Lombardo.
Lombardo noted that Manning has not seemed particularly interested in these types of positions in the past, but an ex-Colts scout believes it’s a distinct possibility.
“It’s very possible Manning is the GM in waiting,” the former Indianapolis scout said to Lombardo. “He spent a lot of time around [current general manager Chris] Ballard and around [Colts owner] Jim [Irsay], when I was in that building.”
Meanwhile, Manning has toyed with the idea of getting involved with the Broncos in an advisory role that would involve an ownership stake, according to the reporting of ESPN’s Adam Schefter in June 2022. So perhaps something similar could be afoot in Indianapolis.
The Walton-Penner Broncos’ ownership group has had conversations with Peyton Manning about an advisory role in the organization that eventually could mean being a part of the ownership group and having equity in the franchise, per sources.
There has been speculation about Manning’s desire to be an NFL owner since at least 2016, when Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla addressed the issue. Perhaps Irsay can lure Manning in with an opportunity to gain equity in the organization after serving as general manager for a period of time.
As of August 2022, the Colts franchise is worth $3.8 billion according to Forbes, so Manning’s net worth falls well short. But he likely has enough to buy at least a 1% stake, should Irsay be willing to offer it up.
Colts Need Their Answer at Quarterback
Whether the Colts stick with Ballard at general manager, convince Peyton Manning to take the gig, or go in another direction, one thing is clear: More than 10 years after Manning was released, the Colts have failed to find his long-term replacement.
Obviously replacing a Hall of Famer is not an easy task, but the Colts have been floundering for some time without a franchise quarterback. It was supposed to be Andrew Luck, but after a spate of injuries and a shocking retirement, Luck ended up leaving the franchise in a lurch.
Since then the Colts have tried to go with aging stars like Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan, and, of course, there was the failed reclamation project with Carson Wentz. It stands to reason that the best way to address the situation is by finding a quarterback in the early rounds of the draft, and who knows the position better than Manning?