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The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From Lars Anderson comes a revealing portrait of the first family of American sports. What the Kennedys are to politics, the Mannings are to football. Two generations have produced three NFL Archie Manning, the Ole Miss hero–turned–New Orleans Saint; his son Peyton, widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game; and Peyton’s younger brother, Eli, who won two Super Bowl rings of his own. And the oldest Manning child, Cooper—who was forced to quit playing sports after he was diagnosed at age eighteen with a rare spinal condition—might have been the most talented of them all. In The Mannings, longtime Sports Illustrated writer Lars Anderson gives us, for the first time, the never-before-told story of this singular athletic dynasty—a story that shows us how finding strength in the face of catastrophe can be the key to success on and off the playing field. Growing up, the three Manning brothers dream of playing side by side on the gridiron at Ole Miss. But with Cooper forced to the bench before his prime, Peyton must fight to win glory for them both. Meanwhile, Eli is challenged by his college coach to stop trailing in the footsteps of others and forge his own path. With Archie’s achievements looming over them, the brothers begin the climb to football history. From the Manning family backyard to the bright lights of Super Bowl 50, The Mannings is an epic, inspiring saga of a family of tenacious competitors who have transfixed a nation.Praise for The Mannings“Anderson, an accomplished storyteller, writes about the Manning football legacy—warts and all—with style and verve, backed by an abundance of research and scholarship.”—Publishers Weekly“An expertly written impressionistic account of the first family of football.”—Library Journal “This is one of the most beautifully written and memorable books I’ve read in years—stunningly spectacular. I couldn’t put it down. Once again, Lars Anderson has shown why he is one of the seminal sportswriters of this generation. The Mannings is an absolute masterpiece.”—Paul Finebaum, ESPN college football analyst and New York Times bestselling author of My Conference Can Beat Your Conference “Lars Anderson drills to the core of the Manning family. I love this book because it’s not just about football; it’s about how to raise a family.”—Bruce Arians, head coach of the Arizona Cardinals “Anderson’s yarn never wobbles. . . . A winner for fans of modern football.”—Kirkus Reviews“Anyone who has paid attention to the NFL over the last five decades understands the significance of the Mannings. They are to America’s best-loved game what the Holbeins are to portraiture, what the Bachs are to classical music, what the Kardashians are to mindless reality television, an unsurpassed dynasty. In The Mannings, Lars Anderson delivers an incisive, honest, and thorough chronicle of the first family of football.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2016
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July 17, 2021
Remember QB Tim Tebow? Well Archie Manning was the original Tebow back in the late 1960's and early 1970's when he was the QB for The University of Mississippi, better known as Ole Miss.
Growing up in the small town of Drew, MS, population 2,000, Archie quarterbacked the Drew HS football team. Due to being so small Drew always languished in the bottom of their football conference, but that was before a red-headed, 6 footer named Archie became the HS QB.
The football team was so small the players had to play both offense and defense, including the star QB so they didn't have much time to rest, unlike the larger schools in their Conference. But Archie was scrappy and he scrambled all over the field trying to get away from determined defensive linemen doing whatever it took to score points.
Archie was a one man show at Drew and soon had a few colleges in Mississippi taking notice of him. After receiving a scholarship from Ole Miss Archie arrived in Oxford, MS ready to fight for a spot on the football team. At that time Ole Miss was a national contender so when a couple of SEC conference Ole Miss football games were nationally televised in prime time the nation had their first glimpse of QB Archie Manning. Archie was fun to watch as he scrambled and outwitted his opponents, even regularly defeating the U. of Alabama.
The unknown Archie soon became "Archie Who?" on the front page sports news all over the country and was soon a Heisman trophy contender in his senior year as Ole Miss contended for the national title.
Growing up in Memphis, TN everyone was soon talking about Archie and there was full coverage of his college career in the Memphis newspapers. Ole Miss was only about 80 miles south of Memphis so a lot of Memphians attended college there since it was closer to home than the U. of TN. So as a teen I couldn't help but became an Archie fan as well. There was even a 45 single titled "The Ballad of Archie Who" that was played regularly on Memphis radio stations. During Archie's senior year Ole Miss was ranked 4th in the nation and a viable national contender for the #1 spot. If only Archie hadn't broke his arm that year...
An event in Archie's life during his glory days at Ole Miss would scar him for life though. One Sunday afternoon Archie returned home from church while his mother and sister went to a cousin's wedding. As Archie walked past his parents bedroom he saw his father leaning over in the bed. Confused, Archie walked into the bedroom and saw a shot gun and blood all over the bed and floor. Archie's first thought was that he had to clean up the blood before his mother and sister returned home. In shock he called his Uncle Peyton for help and the Sheriff soon arrived to take control of the situation.
Archie's father had been in declining health after a stroke and the family was in dire financial straits
due to the failure of his business.
The town of Drew rallied around the devastated Manning family. The entire Ole Miss coaching staff was at the funeral and supported Archie through out this ordeal but Archie would never get over what he saw.
The book covered Archie's NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and the life of his 2 QB sons Peyton and Eli Manning. I thought the information was a little skimpy on the sons though with most of the book focusing on Archie. It would have been nice to know about their marriage and children but neither were mentioned. Nothing was said about the family's generous charity work either. Because of their intensive involvement in helping others the Manning's are well respected in the sports world. So if you're interested in knowing more and his sons this book probably isn't the one for you.
Growing up in the small town of Drew, MS, population 2,000, Archie quarterbacked the Drew HS football team. Due to being so small Drew always languished in the bottom of their football conference, but that was before a red-headed, 6 footer named Archie became the HS QB.
The football team was so small the players had to play both offense and defense, including the star QB so they didn't have much time to rest, unlike the larger schools in their Conference. But Archie was scrappy and he scrambled all over the field trying to get away from determined defensive linemen doing whatever it took to score points.
Archie was a one man show at Drew and soon had a few colleges in Mississippi taking notice of him. After receiving a scholarship from Ole Miss Archie arrived in Oxford, MS ready to fight for a spot on the football team. At that time Ole Miss was a national contender so when a couple of SEC conference Ole Miss football games were nationally televised in prime time the nation had their first glimpse of QB Archie Manning. Archie was fun to watch as he scrambled and outwitted his opponents, even regularly defeating the U. of Alabama.
The unknown Archie soon became "Archie Who?" on the front page sports news all over the country and was soon a Heisman trophy contender in his senior year as Ole Miss contended for the national title.
Growing up in Memphis, TN everyone was soon talking about Archie and there was full coverage of his college career in the Memphis newspapers. Ole Miss was only about 80 miles south of Memphis so a lot of Memphians attended college there since it was closer to home than the U. of TN. So as a teen I couldn't help but became an Archie fan as well. There was even a 45 single titled "The Ballad of Archie Who" that was played regularly on Memphis radio stations. During Archie's senior year Ole Miss was ranked 4th in the nation and a viable national contender for the #1 spot. If only Archie hadn't broke his arm that year...
An event in Archie's life during his glory days at Ole Miss would scar him for life though. One Sunday afternoon Archie returned home from church while his mother and sister went to a cousin's wedding. As Archie walked past his parents bedroom he saw his father leaning over in the bed. Confused, Archie walked into the bedroom and saw a shot gun and blood all over the bed and floor. Archie's first thought was that he had to clean up the blood before his mother and sister returned home. In shock he called his Uncle Peyton for help and the Sheriff soon arrived to take control of the situation.
Archie's father had been in declining health after a stroke and the family was in dire financial straits
due to the failure of his business.
The town of Drew rallied around the devastated Manning family. The entire Ole Miss coaching staff was at the funeral and supported Archie through out this ordeal but Archie would never get over what he saw.
The book covered Archie's NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and the life of his 2 QB sons Peyton and Eli Manning. I thought the information was a little skimpy on the sons though with most of the book focusing on Archie. It would have been nice to know about their marriage and children but neither were mentioned. Nothing was said about the family's generous charity work either. Because of their intensive involvement in helping others the Manning's are well respected in the sports world. So if you're interested in knowing more and his sons this book probably isn't the one for you.
April 8, 2017
Allow me to get one thing off my chest: I am a HUGE Peyton Manning fan. Though I may live nowhere near the South or Indianapolis, places where the Manning name is revered, I still grew up a Peyton fan beginning in his fifth NFL season back in 2002. Why? Because of his incredible preparation and dedication to this sport and his role of quarterback, the beautiful passes he threw in his prime, and his down-to-earth personality and genteel Southern mannerisms. So many things about Peyton stuck out to 10 year old me, and millions of others like me.
As I grew older, I tried expanding my horizons - beyond merely watching Peyton play on the football field - in attempting to understand my hero. I began to follow his press conferences more, especially his acceptance speech for the 2013 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award where Peyton teared up while reflecting on his Dad. In 2013, the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series produced an incredible in-depth look into the entire Manning family which covers all aspects of their lives, and not just their big football moments. This documentary, which is appropriately titled, "Book of Manning," was soon (indirectly) transformed into a book with plenty of additional insights and fleshed-out storylines, along with a few updates as Peyton's career wound down. That book is Lars Anderson's 2016 masterpiece, "The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family."
Though the beginning and end is centralized around the final game and legendary career of Peyton, it becomes quickly clear that the best way to understand The First Family of Football is to understand the patriarch, Archie Manning. Just like in the "Book of Manning" film, the entire first half of this book is devoted to all-things Archie. If you declare yourself a Peyton or Eli Manning fan, don't you dare complain about reading about their father, even if it comes at the expense of less pages centered on his sons. The world NEEDS to know about Archie, how he raised his family, and how Peyton and Eli became the people we know and love. And remember, who is Peyton and Eli's hero? Their father. If you call Peyton and/or Eli Manning your hero, you better respect their own hero as you would them.
I understand why the author prioritized his focus on Archie and establishing Archie's perspective of first being a son who lost his father, and then striving to be the best father himself to his three sons. I also accept the fact that a biography centered on the father can only comment so much on the sons (even if they are more well-known); Anderson does a good job with relaying the best moment's of the Manning son's football lives, which include Cooper's injury and Peyton and Eli's Super Bowl victories, and bringing them back full-circle to the main concept of family. However, I believe that Anderson could have touched on a few more aspects of the Manning sons, including their charitable efforts and the Manning Passing Academy.
This is still an incredible biography (even if it is an identical screenplay of the 2013 "Book of Manning" documentary), and it accomplishes so much, both for avid and casual NFL / Manning fans, alike. Though the Manning family did not actively participate in this book's creation or offer new interviews, Anderson still managed to create a fresh look at the Manning's that many people have not seen, or this degree of depth. I am very happy that I read this book, as it honors both my hero, Peyton, as his career came to a close, and explores the foundation of the entire Manning family.
Enjoy this book. It's all about The First Family of Football.
As I grew older, I tried expanding my horizons - beyond merely watching Peyton play on the football field - in attempting to understand my hero. I began to follow his press conferences more, especially his acceptance speech for the 2013 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award where Peyton teared up while reflecting on his Dad. In 2013, the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series produced an incredible in-depth look into the entire Manning family which covers all aspects of their lives, and not just their big football moments. This documentary, which is appropriately titled, "Book of Manning," was soon (indirectly) transformed into a book with plenty of additional insights and fleshed-out storylines, along with a few updates as Peyton's career wound down. That book is Lars Anderson's 2016 masterpiece, "The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family."
Though the beginning and end is centralized around the final game and legendary career of Peyton, it becomes quickly clear that the best way to understand The First Family of Football is to understand the patriarch, Archie Manning. Just like in the "Book of Manning" film, the entire first half of this book is devoted to all-things Archie. If you declare yourself a Peyton or Eli Manning fan, don't you dare complain about reading about their father, even if it comes at the expense of less pages centered on his sons. The world NEEDS to know about Archie, how he raised his family, and how Peyton and Eli became the people we know and love. And remember, who is Peyton and Eli's hero? Their father. If you call Peyton and/or Eli Manning your hero, you better respect their own hero as you would them.
I understand why the author prioritized his focus on Archie and establishing Archie's perspective of first being a son who lost his father, and then striving to be the best father himself to his three sons. I also accept the fact that a biography centered on the father can only comment so much on the sons (even if they are more well-known); Anderson does a good job with relaying the best moment's of the Manning son's football lives, which include Cooper's injury and Peyton and Eli's Super Bowl victories, and bringing them back full-circle to the main concept of family. However, I believe that Anderson could have touched on a few more aspects of the Manning sons, including their charitable efforts and the Manning Passing Academy.
This is still an incredible biography (even if it is an identical screenplay of the 2013 "Book of Manning" documentary), and it accomplishes so much, both for avid and casual NFL / Manning fans, alike. Though the Manning family did not actively participate in this book's creation or offer new interviews, Anderson still managed to create a fresh look at the Manning's that many people have not seen, or this degree of depth. I am very happy that I read this book, as it honors both my hero, Peyton, as his career came to a close, and explores the foundation of the entire Manning family.
Enjoy this book. It's all about The First Family of Football.
December 1, 2025
This book was a gift from my good friend, teammate, and fellow coach. Jim Stamos. Jim is from the cradle of quarterbacks, Pennsylvania. We are in constant communication. So, for a couple of old QBs, a book about the Mannings seemed natural. This book told the stories behind Archie, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli, from their childhoods to their professional careers. Had Cooper not had a congenital birth defect that prevented him from playing past his freshman year at Ol Miss, I'm sure he would have been as successful as his father and brothers.
Stories about quarterbacks always fascinate me as do stories about football in general. Now that my playing and coaching days are long in the past, stories help fill that gap. This was a good bio about these larger than life people. Effusive in his praise, Anderson doesn't leave anything out, even the rough spots. I enjoyed this book a great deal.
Stories about quarterbacks always fascinate me as do stories about football in general. Now that my playing and coaching days are long in the past, stories help fill that gap. This was a good bio about these larger than life people. Effusive in his praise, Anderson doesn't leave anything out, even the rough spots. I enjoyed this book a great deal.
August 10, 2018
A well written book for sports fans and, especially, fans of the Mannings. It is obvious from reading this book that there would never have been a Peyton or and Eli without first having an Archie Manning. Archie was not just a great father to his sons but he was a great teacher and role model. At the age of twenty Archie was home from Ole Miss where he was a starting quarterback. Archie would be the one to find his own father who had committed suicide by using a 12 gauge shotgun. Archie made a vow on that day that if he ever had children he would always make sure they knew how much he cared for them and he upheld that promise. I remember Archie Manning playing football but I did not remember him as a great player because his winning record was not that good but Anderson tells the real story of how great Archie truly was and why he never went to a winning team and chose to stay with the Saints...it was because his family loved New Orleans. Cooper Manning sometimes gets forgotten in the Manning story but he had a huge impact on his brothers and especially on Peyton. When he was told that he could not play football because of a spine issue he told Peyton that he would live his football dreams through him. The book hits a little on the four Super Bowl wins but is mostly about how this family grew together and how important family is. As Bruce Arians said, "I love this book because it's not just about football; it's about how to raise a family." Great read.
August 14, 2022
My favorite part of a biography like this doesn’t come with the sports aspect of it. I know what Archie, Peyton and Eli did as players. If I wanted that trip down memory lane I would just watch YouTube videos. This book tells me about the trio’s hopes, dreams, struggles and, most importantly, their fears. Knowing how people lived on top of the world had similar struggles as I have was just so enlightening and refreshing to read.
I also read this in preparation of moving to Oxford, MS, for my first job and I learned about the state and city I was moving to, plus I learned about the Ole Miss football team. It was educational for someone who had never stepped foot in Mississippi before. If you don’t know, head to Ajax for the fried catfish. Y’all will be blessed.
I wanted to learn about the Manning family’s persona. Lars did that and more. If you want to view the Manning family in a different light, read this. You won’t be disappointed.
I also read this in preparation of moving to Oxford, MS, for my first job and I learned about the state and city I was moving to, plus I learned about the Ole Miss football team. It was educational for someone who had never stepped foot in Mississippi before. If you don’t know, head to Ajax for the fried catfish. Y’all will be blessed.
I wanted to learn about the Manning family’s persona. Lars did that and more. If you want to view the Manning family in a different light, read this. You won’t be disappointed.
July 2, 2024
This is an all time favorite to me. The story of Archie Manning coming from a childhood of dysfunction and becoming the father he became is fascinating.
April 16, 2025
Loved this! I knew quite a bit about the Mannings as public figures, having gone to Ole Miss but there was so much to this that helped me get to know who they were as people. Incredible family! Highly recommend 5/5
August 15, 2016
“The Mannings: the Fall and Rise of a Football Family” is a must for any football fan’s collection. Written by bestselling author and sportswriter Lars Anderson, the book published by Ballantine Books focuses on what many consider to be “the first family of American sports.”
Let’s face it: we think we know the Manning story. How father Archie started his family on a pro football path followed by sons Peyton and Eli, that son Cooper could have been a giant until spinal stenosis forced him off the field, and how mom Olivia cheered for them all.
Some say the book focuses too much on Archie and too little about his sons, but I found plenty of anecdotes and telling moments about the younger Mannings. Keep in mind that without Archie, there’d be no Manning dynasty. His history is written, while Cooper, Peyton and Eli are still making their mark on the world.
However, there’s more to their story than just their successes. How they handled battles off the field are equally as impressive as their wins. Archie’s dad committed suicide. Cooper saw his dream career crumble, and Peyton and Eli often played under the shadow of their dad.
Anderson chronicles the hard work and personal struggles that have turned this Mississippi family into one of inspiration for fans across the country.
Let’s face it: we think we know the Manning story. How father Archie started his family on a pro football path followed by sons Peyton and Eli, that son Cooper could have been a giant until spinal stenosis forced him off the field, and how mom Olivia cheered for them all.
Some say the book focuses too much on Archie and too little about his sons, but I found plenty of anecdotes and telling moments about the younger Mannings. Keep in mind that without Archie, there’d be no Manning dynasty. His history is written, while Cooper, Peyton and Eli are still making their mark on the world.
However, there’s more to their story than just their successes. How they handled battles off the field are equally as impressive as their wins. Archie’s dad committed suicide. Cooper saw his dream career crumble, and Peyton and Eli often played under the shadow of their dad.
Anderson chronicles the hard work and personal struggles that have turned this Mississippi family into one of inspiration for fans across the country.
January 10, 2017
If you are a fan of SEC football, you will like this book, but it's about much more than football. The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family is also about family and fatherhood. I enjoyed reading about Archie's humble beginnings in tiny Drew, Mississippi, and how he overcame challenges that could have derailed his career in sports before it ever got off the ground.
All the details of the Mannings' football achievements are there, and it's obvious Lars Anderson researched them thoroughly. I caught a few mistakes about details, but they probably wouldn't be obvious to someone who wasn't at Tennessee at the same time as Peyton.
All the details of the Mannings' football achievements are there, and it's obvious Lars Anderson researched them thoroughly. I caught a few mistakes about details, but they probably wouldn't be obvious to someone who wasn't at Tennessee at the same time as Peyton.
May 17, 2020
Lot of time on Archie & Peyton, less so on quiet Eli. Was quite surprised the whole drama around Eli’s drafting was glossed over by the author - many rumours/tales there that go against the non-interfering Archie presented herein. So many articles have been written about these fellows it might be hard to cover, but getting to know more about the cornerstone on field relationships (Peyton & Harrison, for example) would’ve been great. Amazing that a book can be written about Peyton Manning without mentioning Tony Dungy once. The experience of gaining/losing teammates over such long careers, the swapping of coaches - lots of missed opportunities here.
April 6, 2020
A really engaging read, but the storytelling and amount of detail changed drastically after Anderson introduced the children. I was disappointed in how Cooper, Peyton, and Eli’s stories were told. Especially after Cooper’s surgery. The story developed a more jump-cut style, not staying sequential, even within chapters. It felt like he got tired of writing just threw all the details he had on his top remaining page of research and put it in the book and quit. Great bio of Archie (5 stars), but lackluster writing about the sons (3 stars). I’m averaging it out at 4 stars, but that feels high.
December 5, 2024
An admirable attempt to give an overview of the career of three NFL QBs. Anderson hits the high points, but the book is very unbalanced in what he chooses to cover. We spend several paragraphs on Peyton Mannings harassment case yet nothing is mentioned about Eli Manning's draft day and his refusal to play for San Diego. A lot of time was spent on Archie's career, which was good because most do not know much about him and Cooper.
March 16, 2024
A good read. Really enjoyed reading about Archie & Cooper especially - we all “know everything” about Peyton & Eli already - but unless you lived in the south during Archie & Cooper’s college days, you don’t really know what made and makes them tick. Faith, family, football and love. This book made for a great remembrance of those four facets of their lives.
January 28, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed the early chapters about Archie Manning. I never saw him play, but I have become a huge fan of him as a person. This book added to those feelings.
May 13, 2025
They definitely focused most of all on Archie manning when we got to the NFL for Peyton and Eli the book felt rushed we only got to here about two of there seasons there family and kids backstory was missing overall it was pretty good though
4/5
4/5
July 5, 2017
If you are a football fan, you will enjoy this book. If you are a Peyton, Archie, or Eli fan, you will love this book.
August 12, 2018
A wonderful account from Archie's days at Ole Miss, Cooper & Peyton's brotherly bond and Eli's quiet mastery in combining the best of both Archie and Peyton.
December 28, 2021
It was a good biography. 50% about Archie and 50% on Payton, Eli and Cooper. Wished there was more on Archie and Payton but it was still good.
January 2, 2022
We know the names, this is their story
January 28, 2022
Good football book. Great history of the Manning family.
May 6, 2022
Proof that Jim Irsay is an idiot and Peyton Manning is the undisputed greatest of all time!!
August 31, 2023
Rating: A-
December 12, 2024
Wholesome, gripping, and informative. The Manning family is arguably the most successful sports family in American history, and with young Archie already looking poised to carve out a dominant career, I wanted to read this to understand their family dynamic and maybe learn a thing or two. The book chronicles their football journey starting with Archie, then give some details on Cooper, while diving into the careers of Peyton and Eli. I’ll share my thoughts on how I thought the book handled each character on the cover:
Archie:
- The book spends the most time on Archie, which makes sense given that he’s the patriarch. After reading his portion, I came away thinking…Archie is the best guy ever. Driven and talented from a young age, he was a late bloomer who came onto the scene later in high school and peaked during his junior season of college at Ole Miss. He suffered a tragedy with his father in his sophomore year of college, and his main takeaway from it was to let everyone in his life know that he loves them as much as possible, because you never know how much time you have left. His NFL career wasn’t much to write home about, which is understandable given that he was on such a poor organization and remained loyal to them his entire career. It was especially interesting hearing how Olivia managed to deal with his NFL doldrums while supporting young boys and a house all on her own. But throughout his life, he retained a humility and a likability that shined through as a son, a teammate, and most importantly, as a dad. The two main lessons he imparted on his boys were 1) they should do what they love and he will never pressure them into playing football or undermine the role of their coaches and 2) they should always “be a nice guy”, which was a lesson he learned from his father. After knowing about him the least, I enjoyed reading about him greatly. All of us should strive to be a person like Archie
Peyton:
- There’s little about Peyton that isn’t already known, given that he’s the most famous quarterback to ever live not named Brady (Mahomes might reach that level soon tho). His obsessive work habits, competitive nature, and confident leadership style are all the stuff of legend, and although this information wasn’t new, those traits were expounded on in this book in a way that I appreciated. The book details how he would show up prepared to everything: his recruiting meetings as a high schooler, his QB meetings as a collegiate, and everything else football-related. He’s a legitimate junkie, and it was fascinating to see how he’s always been like that. His life lends credence to the idea that some leaders are born, not made. There were multiple stories of him being a jerk as a kid because he couldn’t appropriately channel his competitive drive. Some people are just built different, and Peyton is one of those people. What I did enjoy reading about was the investment that he puts in his relationships. His relationship with both Cooper and Eli are the lynchpin of the second half of the story. He’s Cooper’s no. 1 comforter when he suffered his spinal cord injury which ended his career. Cooper even told Peyton that he would live his football dreams through him, which further drove Peyton into his career. His relationship with Eli is heartwarming as well. Once Eli decided he wanted to play football, Peyton was his no. 1 mentor, teaching him everything he knew, and putting him on the path towards success. Peyton seems like one of those guys that you might not enjoy having him around in the moment, but later on you’ll be glad you had him in your life.
Eli
- The book spends the least amount of time on Eli, but that’s mostly because of his personality. The book portrays him as laid back, stoic, and reserved compared to his brothers. There are numerous stories about him being emotionless after games, not sharing decisions with his family, and refuse affection — his family could only hug him once a week. So because of that, there isn’t a ton to share because Eli doesn’t volunteer a ton of information. What was interesting to read about was his anxiety and vulnerability about living up to the family name. Eli struggled in school at first, and he wasn’t as intrinsically interested in sports as cooper or Peyton, but was clearly gifted athletically. By the time he got to college, he never really considered being as great as his dad or his brother, but it was his coach (Peyton’s offensive coordinator in college), that instilled in him the drive to maximize his abilities. From there, Eli grew into an excellent player who may not have been as prolific as his brother, but had 2 moments etched in Super Bowl history, which neither his father nor his brother can claim. Cool and calm with a fun streak, Eli seems like the guy that surprises you after hang out with him a few times.
I wish the book went into more detail on 2 things: 1) All the NFL draft stuff: the draft competition between Peyton and Ryan Leaf, and Eli’s draft situation with the San Diego chargers and 2) Peyton and Eli’s respective family lives with their wives and their kids
Archie:
- The book spends the most time on Archie, which makes sense given that he’s the patriarch. After reading his portion, I came away thinking…Archie is the best guy ever. Driven and talented from a young age, he was a late bloomer who came onto the scene later in high school and peaked during his junior season of college at Ole Miss. He suffered a tragedy with his father in his sophomore year of college, and his main takeaway from it was to let everyone in his life know that he loves them as much as possible, because you never know how much time you have left. His NFL career wasn’t much to write home about, which is understandable given that he was on such a poor organization and remained loyal to them his entire career. It was especially interesting hearing how Olivia managed to deal with his NFL doldrums while supporting young boys and a house all on her own. But throughout his life, he retained a humility and a likability that shined through as a son, a teammate, and most importantly, as a dad. The two main lessons he imparted on his boys were 1) they should do what they love and he will never pressure them into playing football or undermine the role of their coaches and 2) they should always “be a nice guy”, which was a lesson he learned from his father. After knowing about him the least, I enjoyed reading about him greatly. All of us should strive to be a person like Archie
Peyton:
- There’s little about Peyton that isn’t already known, given that he’s the most famous quarterback to ever live not named Brady (Mahomes might reach that level soon tho). His obsessive work habits, competitive nature, and confident leadership style are all the stuff of legend, and although this information wasn’t new, those traits were expounded on in this book in a way that I appreciated. The book details how he would show up prepared to everything: his recruiting meetings as a high schooler, his QB meetings as a collegiate, and everything else football-related. He’s a legitimate junkie, and it was fascinating to see how he’s always been like that. His life lends credence to the idea that some leaders are born, not made. There were multiple stories of him being a jerk as a kid because he couldn’t appropriately channel his competitive drive. Some people are just built different, and Peyton is one of those people. What I did enjoy reading about was the investment that he puts in his relationships. His relationship with both Cooper and Eli are the lynchpin of the second half of the story. He’s Cooper’s no. 1 comforter when he suffered his spinal cord injury which ended his career. Cooper even told Peyton that he would live his football dreams through him, which further drove Peyton into his career. His relationship with Eli is heartwarming as well. Once Eli decided he wanted to play football, Peyton was his no. 1 mentor, teaching him everything he knew, and putting him on the path towards success. Peyton seems like one of those guys that you might not enjoy having him around in the moment, but later on you’ll be glad you had him in your life.
Eli
- The book spends the least amount of time on Eli, but that’s mostly because of his personality. The book portrays him as laid back, stoic, and reserved compared to his brothers. There are numerous stories about him being emotionless after games, not sharing decisions with his family, and refuse affection — his family could only hug him once a week. So because of that, there isn’t a ton to share because Eli doesn’t volunteer a ton of information. What was interesting to read about was his anxiety and vulnerability about living up to the family name. Eli struggled in school at first, and he wasn’t as intrinsically interested in sports as cooper or Peyton, but was clearly gifted athletically. By the time he got to college, he never really considered being as great as his dad or his brother, but it was his coach (Peyton’s offensive coordinator in college), that instilled in him the drive to maximize his abilities. From there, Eli grew into an excellent player who may not have been as prolific as his brother, but had 2 moments etched in Super Bowl history, which neither his father nor his brother can claim. Cool and calm with a fun streak, Eli seems like the guy that surprises you after hang out with him a few times.
I wish the book went into more detail on 2 things: 1) All the NFL draft stuff: the draft competition between Peyton and Ryan Leaf, and Eli’s draft situation with the San Diego chargers and 2) Peyton and Eli’s respective family lives with their wives and their kids
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
Love a biography, almost like a memoir
February 14, 2026
My only critique is that I wish it was longer.
March 18, 2017
I thought this book was amazing. It explains about a few of the Mannings and their childhood. In my opinion it seems like Archie Manning had a hard childhood. It explains how Archie, Peyton, and Eli got into football and why. It tells about the ups and downs of their family. I also think it is cool that they all play quarterback, they are in the same family, and they are some of the best to play in the NFL. It's incredible. So if you're a football fan you should read this book.
April 21, 2018
This was a good book but in my opinion it could have been a lot better, There was good football facts about each individual but nothing that went into much detail and most facts where facts that you would know already from just watching football. I think the best facts in the book where the ones about the mannings off the field and about the lesser known mannings like Cooper and Archie but unfortunately there was only minimal information about them. As for football information there was a lot, and the book went into a lot of detail about each one of the mannings. In conclusion I think this was a good book if you have minimal knowledge about the mannings before reading but if you do you are better off reading other articles.
November 19, 2016
I don't think I've ever read a better sports biography. Although I'm a Giants fan, I love Peyton just as much as I love Eli. I thought I was ready for 18's retirement after he missed the season due to injury, but this season has been hard. This book? I cried ugly tears.
Anderson drew a fair bit from Manning, but it has been a long while since I read that book and as a result, this didn't feel redundant at all. I feel like we learned a lot more about how Buddy's suicide affected Archie and in turn, the boys even if Archie didn't speak much about it. In addition to there being significantly more about Eli and his career, Anderson fleshed out the stories of Archie's time with the Saints and Peyton's with Tennessee. I'm glad that he addressed the situation with the trainer in a neutral manner rather than pretending it never happened or vilifying Peyton.
Perhaps the best thing about this book was the flow of the narrative. It helped tie new info together with oft-repeated stories of the boys and their father. Anderson devoted the perfect balance to each Manning's story and in an order that flowed well despite being three and a bit (with Cooper) men and three distinct careers. I was surprised not to see a little more mention of the Super Bowls that Peyton's teams lost, especially with the matchup against their hometown team in the first.
A wonderful read for any football fan.
Anderson drew a fair bit from Manning, but it has been a long while since I read that book and as a result, this didn't feel redundant at all. I feel like we learned a lot more about how Buddy's suicide affected Archie and in turn, the boys even if Archie didn't speak much about it. In addition to there being significantly more about Eli and his career, Anderson fleshed out the stories of Archie's time with the Saints and Peyton's with Tennessee. I'm glad that he addressed the situation with the trainer in a neutral manner rather than pretending it never happened or vilifying Peyton.
Perhaps the best thing about this book was the flow of the narrative. It helped tie new info together with oft-repeated stories of the boys and their father. Anderson devoted the perfect balance to each Manning's story and in an order that flowed well despite being three and a bit (with Cooper) men and three distinct careers. I was surprised not to see a little more mention of the Super Bowls that Peyton's teams lost, especially with the matchup against their hometown team in the first.
A wonderful read for any football fan.
December 1, 2016
not the original
as an avid fan of peyton's from the first time he laced up for the colts, i've done quite a bit of reading about him as well as his family over the course of peyton's career down to his final throw as a pro ... with the exception of having read about archie's loss of his dad, I didn't know much about the former saints' qb and was captivated by his story. I also enjoyed learning more about coop and eli and peyton as kids and college players. it was the final 1/4 of the book I found to be disappointing because much of what I read i've read before in other books, magazines and newspapers and on web sites. and so the material in the book didn't read fresh, more like research picked up from other sources ... but it's still a good book ... just not up to anderson's usual standards ...
as an avid fan of peyton's from the first time he laced up for the colts, i've done quite a bit of reading about him as well as his family over the course of peyton's career down to his final throw as a pro ... with the exception of having read about archie's loss of his dad, I didn't know much about the former saints' qb and was captivated by his story. I also enjoyed learning more about coop and eli and peyton as kids and college players. it was the final 1/4 of the book I found to be disappointing because much of what I read i've read before in other books, magazines and newspapers and on web sites. and so the material in the book didn't read fresh, more like research picked up from other sources ... but it's still a good book ... just not up to anderson's usual standards ...
September 21, 2016
I thought this book started out strong with the story of Archie Manning. I was unfamiliar with his life. But I thought the second half was very superficial. There was almost nothing about the non football lives of Peyton, Eli or Cooper. I feel as if I learned nothing about the adult Eli especially.
I assumed this book was a puff piece written with the Mannings, since it was so impersonal. I was surprised to read it was not.
I assumed this book was a puff piece written with the Mannings, since it was so impersonal. I was surprised to read it was not.
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