Colts to retire Peyton’s number
INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning took one more victory lap around Indianapolis on Friday. It’s not likely to be his last. Less than two weeks after announcing his retirement in Denver, the record- breaking quarterback returned to his first NFL home to reminisce, thank supporters and receive a fitting send- off from the team he first played for. Colts owner Jim Irsay said Manning’s No. 18 jersey will be retired and the team will erect a statue of him at Lucas Oil Stadium in honor of the man who did a lot more than win games in Indy.
“When I got here, it was basketball, basketball, basketball and it was car racing, car racing, car racing. Football was probably in the third place, and that’s no longer the case. It’s a football town,” Manning said. “It was fun to be a part of that transformation.”
For Manning, this was more like a second trip down memory lane.
He recounted tales of incredible comebacks and bitter disappointments, former teammates and the bonds they formed, and he acknowledged how grateful he was the city embraced him from the day he arrived.
A smattering of fans — some dressed in the Colts’ blue and white, other dressed in Denver’s orange and blue — stood outside the front gate of the team’s complex. Inside, it was emotional. At one point, Manning’s voice cracked, but he drew a lot more laughter, including a roar after remembering Jim Mora’s infamous “playoffs” rant actually was directed at him after he threw four interceptions against the 49ers.
It was a stark contrast to the last time Manning and Irsay stood together inside the same room in March 2012. Then, both shed tears as Irsay announced the parting of ways to make room for Manning’s successor, Andrew Luck.
This time, Irsay and Manning laughed and joked as they told stories, and Manning flew into town on Irsay’s personal plane one more time. Before speaking with reporters, Manning met with Luck and others in the team complex.
“It was always strange to watch 18 out there without a horseshoe on his helmet, and it wasn’t always easy for us,” Irsay said as a slideshow of Manning played on two screens behind the podium. “I think I speak for all Colts fans. We feel like he’s ours.”