Colts: Re-live best moments from Peyton Manning’s Hall of Fame induction

The legacy of Peyton Manning, who spent the bulk of his career as the face of the Indianapolis Colts, was immortalized in Canton forever during his Hall of Fame induction. With the Class of 2020 and 2021 being inducted together due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manning went in alongside teammate Edgerrin James.

While the 2021 class featured standouts like Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, and John Lynch, Manning was the main event, as his statistical greatness makes him one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, if not the outright greatest.

Manning’s speech, as one would expect, was one of the highlights of the night, perfectly blending humor, emotion, and motivation all in one package. Manning sounded like someone who could run for commissioner if he needed to.

One of the more emotionally charged moments came when Manning declared that the “future of the game is ours to shape”, calling on all those watching to take an active role in making sure this game survives and thrives.

If this is what he was able to do for a HOF speech, just imagine what he was able to inspire his teammates with on Sunday.

Colts legend Peyton Manning delivered a rousing speech.

While Manning’s statistical achievements will always be what he is known for above all else, his jovial personality and rivalry with New England Patriots legend Tom Brady are major parts of his legacy. He managed to get one last joke in at Brady’s expense during his speech.

Manning jokingly hinted that Brady is going to be inducted into Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he stops playing in 2035. Manning followed that up by saying that in lieu of a speech, Brady will just post a quick note on his Instagram account.

Considering what he did with Tampa Bay this year, Manning might not be that far off.

One of the more touching moments came when Peyton, who was visibly choked up during this section of his speech, honored his father, former Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Archie not only helped unveil Peyton’s bust earlier in the day, but he also, per Peyton, served as his role model and inspiration.

Manning also took some time to single out brothers Cooper and Eli Manning, calling them the “two best brothers a guy could ask for.”

What Manning was able to do in an NFL uniform, most of which spent in Indianapolis, will be equaled by few, if any, across the remainder of NFL history. It’s only fitting that someone firmly in the GOAT debate authored one of the more rousing Hall of Fame speeches we’ve seen in recent history.

No. 18 and his legacy is already entrenched in solid gold within the Colts organization, but now that he has officially had his shining moment in Canton, Manning can officially rest secure knowing that what he did on the football field will live on forever.

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