Peyton Manning knows what it’s like to spend years in one NFL city and reach two Super Bowls before later changing teams late in his career.
Manning was let go by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012 and he went on to reach two more Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, retiring following the 2015 season after winning Super Bowl 50.
Following his split with the Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson is hoping to follow Manning’s lead by finding success in Denver as well. Manning has been more than willing to help Wilson any way he can.
“We’ve been talking a lot,” Wilson said last week when asked about his conversations with Manning. “I’ve gotten to know Peyton over the years. He was my quarterbacks coach way back in the day when I was in 10th or 11th grade. We spent a lot of time together back then in Louisiana at his passing academy. Over the years, we’ve connected and talked quite a bit.”
Having someone like Manning available is an incredible resource for Wilson, something the quarterback has not taken for granted.
“Since I’ve gotten here, he’s kind of taken me under his wing in a beautiful way …. The thing that Peyton and I both love is football. We can spend all day watching football together. That’s what we were able to do and spend a little time together. We’ll do more as we go. It’s fun to be able to be around arguably the world’s greatest who has ever played the game at that position. To be able to learn and ask questions …. that’s the fun part.”
Wilson is 33 and he’s hoping to play until he’s 45. That’s an ambitious goal, but even if he “only” plays until age 40 like Manning, Wilson would play seven seasons in Denver — three more than Manning did. In four seasons, Manning won four division titles and reached a pair of Super Bowls.
Broncos fans can only hope Wilson has similar on-field success.
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