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Peyton Manning’s 5 best moments with the Colts

By Ryan Stano

Peyton Manning on the stage during Dwight Freeney's induction into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor at halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning on the stage during Dwight Freeney's induction into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor at halftime of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Colts defeated the Browns 29-28. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Colts defeated the Browns 29-28. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

Manning’s rookie year was a rough one. He set the NFL record for most interceptions in a season for a rookie by throwing 28 of them. That led the Colts to a disappointing 3-13 record. While they were a really bad team, it did allow them to get the 4th overall pick in 1999.

With that pick, the Colts selected another Manning weapon. They took Edgerrin James, who made an immediate impact with the team. Manning’s play drastically improved that season as well, as he threw for 4,135 yards and 26 touchdowns and cut his interceptions in half.

Those stellar stats allowed Manning to make the first Pro Bowl of his illustrious career. Not only was Manning brilliant, but the team flipped their record from 3-13 to 13-3 and earned themselves a first-round bye in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they would lose their first game to the Titans.

Even though Manning lost in his first taste of the postseason, it was an important turning point in his career. It showed the league that he was certainly ready to take the mantle as the next great quarterback in the league. It also showed the league that the Colts were a team on the rise.

Manning’s next great moment with the Colts happened a few years later on what would become one of the most famous Monday Night games in the history of the league against the defending Super Bowl Champions.

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