Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is one of the most accomplished players in NFL history — quarterbacks or otherwise.
The future Pro Football Hall of Famer is also a wealth of NFL knowledge, and the legendary signal-caller recently told a story of how former United States President Richard Nixon influenced the game and even motivated the Washington Redskins back in the 1970s:
“Richard Nixon tried to get rid of the blackouts because he couldn’t see the Redskins [in the 1972 NFC Championship game],” Manning said, via Dan Pompei of The Athletic. “Pete Rozelle didn’t want to do it because [he thought] it would hurt attendance and viewership. It’s actually had the opposite effect. Every player should be thanking Richard Nixon for what they are making today. They have him on audio on the famous tapes saying this would be his greatest achievement if he can get rid of the blackouts. And that was after China and all his other major accomplishments.”
Of course, Manning left behind a tremendous legacy of his own when his playing days came to an end a few seasons ago. Winning a Super Bowl title with both the Colts and Broncos while reaching four title games in all, Manning will soon become a first-ballot Hall of Famer while standing out as both a player and leader during his time on the gridiron.
Now, Peyton Manning notably serves as a NFL analyst for ESPN, and his storytelling abilities are as evident as ever.
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