VFL and Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning had the internet buzzing in late September when he wore a full Nike Tennessee uniform during Morgan Wallen’s Neyland Stadium walkout on Sept. 22.
Wallen also featured Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, Bru McCoy, and Nico Iamaleava, who were all in street clothes. Manning, though, was the only one in full uniform – helmet included.
So, who was the mastermind behind the uniform idea?
The Sheriff, himself, it seems.
Manning didn’t have any Monday Night ManningCast shows in the weeks after the concert but returned to ESPN2 this past Monday, giving the former Tennessee quarterback his first chance to explain the walkout on national television.
Peyton kicked it up a notch for @MorganWallen‘s walk out.
(cc: @Vol_Football) pic.twitter.com/ZebFeZDeNR
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) October 8, 2024
“I’m not as cool as (Travis) Kelce and (Patrick) Mahomes, you looked stiff, so I had to do something different, right?” Manning said. “You go full uniform, Morgan liked it, the crowd liked it, that’s all that matters, Paul… Look, I studied film of the previous walkouts. Mahomes and Kelce looked cool, alright? [Tom] Brady looked stiff. Eli looked stiff. I said, I’m not cool like Kelce and Mahomes, but I’m not going to be stiff like Eli and Brady. I’m going to do my own thing. So I went full uniform! Jock strap, I got my ankles taped, the full deal, Paul! … I rehearsed! I rehearsed!”
Here’s a look at Manning’s full entrance from Neyland Stadium on Sept. 22:
