Colts to honour Manning

LOS ANGELES: The Indianapolis Colts announced on Tuesday they planned to retire Peyton Manning’s No.18 jersey and unveil a statue of the legendary quarterback outside the team’s Lucas Oil stadium in October.

Manning, who retired from the National Football League after leading the Denver Broncos to an upset Super Bowl victory over the Carolina Panthers last year, spent 13 seasons with the Colts.

He remains t he team’s all-time leading passer with 54,828 yards and 399 touchdowns and also guided the team to a Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears at the end of the 2006 season.

“Peyton will always be a Colt,” Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement announcing details of the Oct 7 statue unveiling.

“This will be an event our city, state and Colts fans around the world can celebrate and be proud of,” Irsay added.

Manning is the first Colts player t o have his j ersey number retired since t he team moved to Indianapolis from Baltimore.

Johnny Unitas (No.19), Buddy Young (No.22), Lenny Moore (No.24), Art Donovan (No.70), Jim Parker (No.77), Raymond Berry (No.82) and Gino Marchetti (No.89) are the only other players to be afforded the honour.

“I am humbled, and I am grateful to Jim and the Irsay family for this tremendous honour,” Manning said in a statement.