In a week that showcased the Manning family’s enduring influence across American sports and entertainment, three generations of Manning quarterbacks made headlines in distinctly different ways.
Peyton Manning, the NFL Hall of Famer, demonstrated his comedic timing at the Country Music Awards in Nashville, taking a pointed jab at Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. During his third consecutive year as CMA host, Manning couldn’t resist commenting on Kelsea Ballerini’s song “Cowboys Cry Too,” quipping, “Alright, that’s enough about Jerry Jones.” The joke struck a chord with the audience, highlighting the Cowboys’ disappointing 3-7 record this season.
The former quarterback’s night wasn’t limited to scripted jokes. After the awards show, Manning showed his musical side at Nashville’s Loser’s Bar, attempting David Allan Coe’s “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” While his singing might not earn him a record deal, his enthusiasm won over the crowd, even as he navigated the song’s challenging spoken section with more spirit than pitch perfection.
Meanwhile, the newest generation of Manning quarterbacks made a spectacular entrance into college football. Arch Manning, the 19-year-old nephew of Peyton and Eli, delivered a breakthrough performance that turned heads across the nation. Stepping in for injured starter Quinn Ewers, the young Manning showed he’s more than just a famous name, throwing for 223 yards and four touchdowns while completing 9 of 12 passes in Texas Longhorns’ commanding 56-7 victory over UTSA.
Perhaps most impressively, Arch demonstrated skills that would make his uncles proud, adding a 67-yard rushing touchdown that brought the crowd of over 100,000 fans to their feet. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised his backup quarterback’s composure, noting, “Playing in front of 105,000 people is not the easiest thing to do.”
The contrast between Jerry Jones’s struggles and the Manning family’s successes became even more apparent as Jones defended his capabilities as a Cowboys owner. After ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith drew comparisons between Jones and President Joe Biden regarding age-related concerns, Jones responded firmly: “I wish he would follow me around every day. And he would see that I’m the busiest that I’ve ever been in my life.”
The week’s events highlighted the Manning family’s remarkable ability to stay relevant across generations and domains. The family continues to make headlines from Peyton’s transition to entertainment and comedy to young Arch’s emergence as potentially the next great Manning quarterback. Their influence spans from the bright lights of Nashville’s music scene to the packed stands of college football, proving that the Manning legacy is far from over.
As the Cowboys continue their challenging season and Arch Manning potentially steps into a more significant role for the Longhorns, one thing remains clear: whether it’s throwing touchdowns, hosting awards shows, or taking the stage for karaoke, the Manning family knows how to command attention and deliver performances worth talking about.