Denver Broncos quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning is expected to announce his retirement by the end of this week, according to Woody Paige of The Denver Post.
One of the greatest quarterbacks to ever suit up is expected to hang it up this week, and many saw this coming. Reports surfaced prior to Super Bowl 50 that Manning had already told his close friends that he had planned to retire following the big game, and the Broncos have been proceeding with contracts with other players without taking into account Manning's $19 million salary for the upcoming 2016 season, according to Fox Sports' Alex Marvez.
Denver's front office is trying to retain significant players from their Super Bowl winning roster, with players like linebacker Von Miller, quarterback Brock Osweiler and defensive lineman Malik Jackson all becoming unrestricted free agents in March. No official decision has been made at this time, though, as Broncos vice president of public relations Patrick Smyth tweeted on Saturday that Manning "has not made a decision on his future. Plan remains for him to continue talks with the team this week."
While no official decision has been made, it sounds like the future Hall of Famer is ready to call his career after one of the greatest careers the league has ever seen. Known as the best regular season quarterback of all-time, Manning achieved some incredible numbers in his career and holds career records in passing yards and touchdowns while also becoming the winningest quarterback in NFL History with his 200th career win coming in Super Bowl 50.
Manning also became the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams and became the oldest quarterback to win the NFL's biggest game at 39 years old. There were many doubters of Manning after leaving Indianapolis, as many believed that he wouldn't ever play on the same level, but at the end of his four-year span in Denver, it should be considered a major success.
In four seasons in Denver, Manning reached two Super Bowls, won one of them, and set both single season passing records and career passing records, and he has only solidified himself as one of the greatest to ever play the sport.