Many have speculated for a while now that former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning could look at joining the ownership group of an NFL team some day.
Manning announced his retirement from football in March 2016, weeks after winning a Super Bowl 50 championship with the Broncos.
The five-time NFL MVP has kept busy in his post-playing days, having started up Omaha Productions (an entertainment company) while also co-hosting the “ManningCast” on ESPN’s Monday Night Football program with younger brother Eli Manning.
Now, a new report is indicating that Manning may become an owner of an NFL team in the future.
Citing sources, Mike McCarthy and A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports are reporting that Manning could take over ownership of an NFL team. The report cited Manning’s popularity across the NFL and the fact that the league’s broadcast partners pushed hard to land him:
“Not a minority owner. Not window dressing for an investment group looking to exploit his famous name. Manning could be calling the shots alongside power players like Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots.
Don’t believe it? Consider this: More than a half-dozen companies have already tried to invest in the fast-growing entertainment company, sources told Front Office Sports — and Omaha’s not even two years old.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
If Peyton Manning can raise enough capital to buy a franchise, the league’s owners would likely welcome him with open arms, said sources.”
Some wondered if Manning would look to join the Broncos’ ownership group after the team went up for sale. The franchise was ultimately purchased by the Walton-Penner group for a whopping $4.65 billion.
Several high-profile professional athletes joined the sports ownership world after their playing careers. Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest NBA player ever, is the owner of the Charlotte Hornets.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is also a minority owner of Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox, as he has a stake in the Fenway Sports Group that owns the MLB team.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became a minority owner of MLB’s Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC of Major League Soccer. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a minority owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
After Manning’s retirement, Forbes reported that he had made $400 million in career earnings. The final contract of his playing career came from the Broncos in 2012 free agent: a five-year contract worth $96 million
