Will Peyton Manning retire after the Super Bowl?

While the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning is publicly staying mum on his retirement plans, his friends allegedly say that, privately, he's pretty open about the fact that he expects Sunday's Super Bowl game to be his last, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports. "The reality is he let the cat out of the bag a little bit," Rapoport said.
Manning himself has even confirmed that he told Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady on the field after Denver's win that this next game might be his "last rodeo."
"I understand this could be it and I wanted to tell both of them I really have enjoyed these games," Manning said in an interview Monday night. "Maybe I'll hit the fountain of youth sometime in the month and we'll play 10 more championships against each other."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But for right now, Manning says all he's really concerned about is the present. "It would be one thing if you were asking me this and we were 4–11 with one game to go," Manning said. "But somehow, some way we are playing in the Super Bowl and I get to start at quarterback. I haven't gotten too reflective and too 'big picture.' I haven't made my mind up. I have just stayed in the moment. At some point after the season, I will have a comprehensive analysis. But I am at peace with it. I am a realist."
Manning, 39, will become the oldest quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl Sunday in the Denver Broncos' game against the Carolina Panthers. He turns 40 in March.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What does 'conquering' Gaza mean to Israel?
Today's Big Question Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has approved a plan to displace much of the Palestinian population while seizing and occupying the territory on a long-term basis.
-
Casey Means: the controversial 'wellness influencer' nominated for surgeon general
In the Spotlight Means has drawn controversy for her closeness to RFK Jr.
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
Speed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
speed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess champion
Speed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Speed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
-
New York wins WNBA title, nearly nabs World Series
Speed Read The Yankees with face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming Fall Classic
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
-
South Carolina ends perfect season with NCAA title
Speed Read The women's basketball team won a victory over superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record
speed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State