Peyton Manning has been out of football for nearly a full calendar year now, and speculation continues about what he’ll do next in his career after taking a year away from any formal football duties.
One of his former teams – the Indianapolis Colts – is reportedly making a push for Manning to join the organization in a front-office role, likely something similar to what Johny Elway does for the Denver Broncos.
Colts owner Jim Irsay in fact made strong push for Peyton Manning as head of football w Gruden as coach. Still hopeful to get Peyton
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 14, 2017
While Irsay would love to bring Peyton back its Manning's call and tho he's listened I think it would be uphill battle to get him to do it
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 14, 2017
The Colts have underachieved the past couple years under head coach Chuck Pagano and GM Ryan Grigson, leaving the future of the team’s leadership in doubt. Owner Jim Irsay, according to reports, has been talking to both Gruden and Manning, while having his current coach and GM under contract.
Getting those two would certainly qualify as a dream scenario for the franchise and the city, but it won’t be easy.
Gruden, who currently serves as the analyst for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, has been an oft-rumored coaching candidate both in the NFL and at the college level. Tennessee fans are familiar with the rumors that have surrounded him and the Vols in recent years.
Manning is a complete wild card at this point. He could do about anything he wants in the business or football world, and Indianapolis, the place that drafted him and where he played the majority of his career, would certainly make some level of sense for a destination, but as Glazer notes, it’ll be an “uphill battle” for the Colts to make that happen.
