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The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family
From New York Times bestselling author Lars Anderson comes the first full biography of the top family in American sports. Two generations of Mannings have produced three star quarterbacks: Archie, the folk hero at Ole Miss and a star with the Saints; Peyton, considered one of the best of all time; and Eli, winner of two Super Bowl trophies. It has even been whispered that the oldest Manning boy, Cooper, who was forced to quit football when he was diagnosed with a rare condition, was the most talented of the three. Theirs is a story of victory and faith, but it begins with tragedy—and it opens a window on how tragedy often leads to exceptionalism.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
256 pages, ebook
Published August 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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-
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.
October 25, 2016
This is an easy read but I felt it could have been much more. The first half is about Archie with much information about his family. the second half is about Peyton and Eli but is very superficial with a focus on their football super bowl games. Almost nothing about their lives outside of football or their families.
January 23, 2017
It's safe to say that this book looks at the Manning family through rose-colored glasses, but I learned a lot and loved sharing factoids with friends. Prepare yourself for several Archie-focused chapters and little info on Peyton and Eli's pro football years.
October 14, 2016
I love a good biography, but this felt like a shallow read, as if I were reading a book written at a 6th-grade level that presents everything in a glorified light.
October 18, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 2, 2016
Fun read for a Broncos fan, and surprisingly inspirational for those who are devoted to family.
November 19, 2016
Really liked this book, behind the Manning stories, just wanted to keep reading. Never knew the life they had, and how it came about. One of the best sports books I have read.
January 12, 2017
Good book. Overview of the Manning family. Has some new facts that you can learn about them.
October 7, 2017
I don't normally read biographies but I'm an avid football fan and Peyton Manning has long been my favorite quarterback. This book was thoughtfull and insightfull without being pushy or intrusive. As I read I felt like I was part of the action and it focused on what and how the Mannings were feeling just as much as it focused on the football plays and games. Very well written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews