Archie Manning Elisha Archibald " Archie " Manning III ( born May 19 , 1949 ) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League , playing for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982 , then for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings . He is the father of current Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning , current New York Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning , and former Ole Miss receiver Cooper Manning . Early life . Archie Manning was born in Drew , Mississippi , the son of Jane Elizabeth ( née Nelson ) and Elisha Archie Manning , Jr . He grew up heavily involved in football , basketball , baseball , and track . His father , known as " Buddy , " was interested in Archie ' s sports activities , but the nature of his job left him little time for attending games . Instead , Archie ( III ) drew his inspiration from a local high school sports star , James Hobson . His mother was " a ubiquitous presence at all of his games , no matter what the sport or level . " Manning attended Drew High School . Archie was drafted in the Major League Baseball draft four times , first in 1967 by the Braves and later twice by the White Sox then finally by the Royals in 1971 . His father committed suicide when Archie was 19 . Actress Taryn Manning is the daughter of Archie Manning ' s late cousin , Bill Manning . College career . Archie Manning attended the University of Mississippi and was the starting quarterback at Ole Miss for three years . In the first national prime time broadcast of a college football game ( 1969 ) , Manning threw for 436 yards and three touchdowns , also rushing for 104 yards , in a 33 – 32 loss to Alabama . That 540 - yard performance was still tied for the SEC record for most total yards in a game until September 29 , 2012 when Texas A & M quarterback Johnny Manziel accumulated 553 yards against Arkansas . However , the rest of the team was not at his level and despite Manning ' s considerable talent the Rebels had a record of only 15 – 7 in his last two years . In his college career , he threw for 4 , 753 yards and 31 touchdowns ( despite 40 interceptions ) and ran for 823 yards . He scored 14 touchdowns in 1969 . In both 1969 and 1970 , he was named to the All - SEC team and his No . 18 jersey was retired by Ole Miss . In 1969 , Manning was Mississippi Sportsman of the Year and recipient of the " Nashville Banner " Trophy as Most Valuable Player in the Southeastern Conference . He was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1969 and third in 1970 . Manning was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 . Manning ' s legacy is honored to this day on the campus of Ole Miss where the speed limit is eighteen miles per hour in honor of Manning ' s jersey number . During his time at Ole Miss , Manning was a brother of Sigma Nu Fraternity . Manning was named Southeastern Conference Quarterback of the Quarter Century ( 1950 – 75 ) by several publications . NFL career . Manning played for the Saints for ten full seasons . He was usually one of the few marquee players on a dreadful team . During his tenure in New Orleans , the Saints had nine losing seasons , and only managed to get to . 500 once ( 1979 ) . Nevertheless , he was well respected by NFL peers . For example , he was sacked 340 times during his Saints career . According to " Sports Illustrated " senior writer Paul Zimmerman , opposing defensive linemen , " Jack Youngblood in particular , " were known to take it easy on the poorly protected Manning and not hit him as hard . For his part Manning seemed to appreciate Youngblood ' s kindness , telling the " Los Angeles Times " , on September 23 , 1974 , " The Rams front four is the best I ever faced . . . I ' ve got to say that Youngblood was nice enough to pick me up every time he knocked my ( butt ) off . " Today , Manning jokes that Youngblood ' s career would not have been as successful without him , " I really should be his presenter . He wouldn ’ t have gotten in [ to the Hall of Fame ] without having me to sack . " In 1972 he led the league in pass attempts and completions and led the National Football Conference in passing yards , though the team ' s record was only 2 – 11 – 1 . Archie sat out the entire 1976 season after corrective surgery on his right shoulder . In 1978 , he was named the NFC Player of the Year by UPI after leading the Saints to a 7 – 9 record . That same year , Archie was also named All - NFC by both the UPI and " The Sporting News " . Manning was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979 . He went on to conclude his career with the Houston Oilers ( 1982 – 1983 ) , and the Minnesota Vikings ( 1983 – 1984 ) . He ended his 13 - year career having completed 2 , 011 of 3 , 642 passes for 23 , 911 yards and 125 touchdowns , with 173 interceptions . He also rushed for 2 , 197 yards and 18 touchdowns . His 2 , 011 completions ranked 17th in NFL history upon his retirement . His record as a starter was 35 – 101 – 3 ( 26 . 3 % ) , the worst in NFL history among QBs with at least 100 starts . He retired having never played on a team that notched a winning record or made the playoffs . Post - NFL career . Manning continues to make his home in New Orleans , though he also owns a condo in Oxford , Mississippi , to where he relocated following Hurricane Katrina , and he is involved as an analyst with the Saints ' radio and preseason television broadcasts . He can also be seen as a commentator for CBS Sports ' college football broadcasts . Manning has also appeared as a commercial spokesman for products in Southeast Louisiana , where he remains popular with many fans . Working with his three sons , Cooper , Peyton , and Eli , Archie also hosts the Manning Passing Academy each summer . This camp brings together young players from 8 – 12 grade , who work with high school coaches and college players . In 2007 , Manning was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts of America . The Silver Buffalo is the highest award given for service to Youth on a national basis . In the 1992 novel " The Pelican Brief " , author John Grisham ( who hails from Manning ' s college home of Oxford , Mississippi ) named one of the book ' s minor characters ( a U . S . Supreme Court Justice ) Archibald Manning , in honor of Archie Manning . In 2007 , Manning was hired as spokesman for a United Parcel Service contest to promote its " Delivery Intercept " service . He appeared in an advertising campaign for the UPS Delivery Intercept Challenge Video Contest , which solicited amateur videos of football interceptions from high school and youth games . Among the prizes were a tailgate party with Manning as well as Manning - autographed footballs . Family . Olivia Manning . Olivia Williams Manning , Archie ' s wife , is from Philadelphia , Mississippi , and attended Ole Miss , where they met . She was a member of Delta Gamma . and Homecoming Queen her senior year . After marriage and moving to New Orleans , Archie and Olivia had three sons and she became , and remains , active in charity and volunteer work in the community . This community work includes being a member of Women of the Storm , a group of New Orleans women created after Hurricane Katrina . The Mannings make their home in the Garden District of New Orleans , which escaped heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina . Olivia is seen , along with Archie and sons Cooper , Peyton and Eli , in an NFL commercial . Cooper Manning . Cooper Manning , Archie ' s oldest son , was born in 1974 . At 6 ' 4 " , he was once an All - State High School wide receiver , and he was considered a hot prospect for the University of Mississippi . At 18 , after extensive testing , he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis ( a narrowing of the spinal canal ) , which brought his playing days to an end . He is also the joker of the family , once convincing Peyton to join him in wearing brown paper bags on their heads at one of their father ' s Saints games . He guest starred in " The Simpsons " episode " Oh Brother , Where Bart Thou ? " with his brothers . He is a member of the Dan Patrick Show holding his own segment entitled " Manning of the Street . " He is now a partner in a New Orleans energy investment firm . Peyton Manning . Peyton Manning , Archie ' s second son , was born in 1976 . Widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history , he was the first overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft . Peyton attended the University of Tennessee . He led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29 – 17 victory in Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears on February 4 , 2007 . In 2009 Peyton Manning and the Colts started the season 14 – 0 before losing to the Jets when Jim Caldwell rested their starters . He was awarded his 4th MVP title following the 2009 season , passing Brett Favre for the most MVPs awarded to any player in the NFL . He has 12 Pro Bowl Selections . In 2010 he led his team to their second AFC title in four seasons . His 14 season career with the Colts came to an end with Manning sitting out the entire 2011 season with an injury . On March 7 , 2012 , the Colts announced that they would not pick up the option on his contract , including a $ 28 million roster bonus . Because of this , Peyton became a free agent . He signed a five - year , $ 96 million contract with the Denver Broncos on March 20 , 2012 . Eli Manning . Eli Manning was born in New Orleans , Louisiana 1981 . He is currently the starting quarterback of the New York Giants . He attended Ole Miss as starting quarterback and was drafted No . 1 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft , but was traded to the Giants for Philip Rivers on draft day . Before being drafted , both Archie and Eli were vocal in their opposition to playing for the Chargers , leveraging the trade to the Giants . He led the Giants to Super Bowl XLII , and also won the Most Valuable Player award of Super Bowl XLII . With a final score of 17 – 14 , Eli and the Giants defeated the heavily favored and previously undefeated New England Patriots . In 2012 Eli and the Giants again defeated the New England Patriots 21 – 17 in Super Bowl XLVI , winning his 2nd Lombardi Trophy and his second Super Bowl MVP award . Eli is a three - time Pro Bowl selection . Cooper , Peyton , and Eli all attended and graduated from Isidore Newman School in New Orleans .