As the NFL Season Kicks Off, Peyton Manning Is Ready to Take Manningcast to the Next Level

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As the NFL Season Kicks Off, Peyton Manning Is Ready to Take Manningcast to the Next Level

As a long-time football player and now a TV personality, I must say it’s been quite a journey for me to let my goofy side show. Growing up, we were taught to be serious on the field, but off the field, we’re just regular folks. So, when opportunities like the Nationwide commercials come along, I jump at them! It’s a chance to poke fun at myself and connect with people in a way that football sometimes can’t.

This year, Peyton Manning has been a frequent guest on TV screens. After his successful career as an NFL quarterback, he’s now a TV personality and producer through Omaha Productions. He co-hosted NBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, and next week, his alternative Monday Night Football broadcast for ESPN will begin. Additionally, he’s kept a steady pace in commercials, with his newest funny ad for Nationwide set to premiere during the NFL kickoff game on NBC Thursday night.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Manning shared insights about his foray into entertainment, improvising in real-time, potential involvement in future Olympic broadcasts, and the exciting elements that fans can look forward to on the Manningcast this season.

It appears that your presence has been quite prominent on TV this year, with the Olympics, the approaching return of the Manningcast, and also the upcoming Nationwide spot during the NFL kickoff game. Could you share what it’s been like for you as you’ve transitioned into this multifaceted role that encompasses aspects of acting, producing, and media personality through Omaha?

I don’t share your viewpoint when it comes to the label of being an ‘actor’. While I excel at reading from a teleprompter and can remember a few lines, my skills are limited compared to what an actor might possess. I can recall phrases like “Nationwide is on your side,” but that doesn’t make me believe I have the depth and versatility of an actual actor.

But listen, my Nationwide partnership goes back to 2014 when I was still playing for the Broncos, and I’ve just been incredibly appreciative of Nationwide’s support and continuing this partnership since I’ve been retired now, which is going on, golly, eight years now. They’ve helped me kind of prepare for this second chapter, for this life after football. Football is obviously a huge part of my life, like you mentioned in the second chapter, I’m involved in Omaha Productions, certainly, a lot of philanthropic projects. I’m a youth football coach on my son’s team. I’m going to my daughter’s volleyball game today. So I’m a I’m a sports parent. And you know, the fact that this commercial is what Nationwide is kind of leaning into, right? That they are more than just an auto and home insurance company. They’re also a financial services giant who can help customers with things like retirement planning and protecting long term goals.

It’s been great to try out various activities beyond football, and while football may have provided the initial opportunity, I’ve truly enjoyed every moment of it. I had a blast filming this commercial! Fun fact: Peyton Manning even dabbled in art back in seventh grade, so it was rewarding to apply those skills in bringing this commercial to life.

Could you share your thoughts on broadening your horizons in terms of projects or roles? I’m aware that you’ve had an extensive tenure with Nationwide, but you’ve also worked with NBC for the Olympics this year. It seems like you’re exploring and experimenting with new endeavors. How do you go about determining what you’d like to focus on, weighing its value against your time, and finding opportunities for personal growth?

For athletes, it can be challenging to think beyond the immediate future, such as three or five years down the line. If you were to ask a quarterback or coach today about their thoughts for 2027, they’d likely find the question peculiar, wouldn’t they? Right now, as a player, we are fully focused on the year 2024, and I have adapted a similar mindset in this second phase of our work. We aim to do good work here and now, in 2024.

I was given an extraordinary chance by NBC to participate in the Olympics. After consulting with my colleagues at ESPN and Disney, I found they were gracious enough to allow me to take part. To clarify, this wasn’t football, it was the Olympics – a rare occasion indeed! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I seized. Along with my wife, our two children, my mother, and my mother-in-law, we traveled to Paris. There, I collaborated on the opening ceremony with Mike Tirico, watched Simone Biles compete in gymnastics, Katie Ledecky swim, beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, and even caught Nadal playing Djokovic in a tennis match at Roland Garros stadium. In essence, it was a dream vacation that I feel privileged to have been a part of. I’m not entirely sure what comes next, but I do know it was an amazing trip!

Over the past two years, I’ve had the honor of hosting the CMA Awards. My affection for country music remains strong, but I can’t promise I’ll be back after this year. Tonight, a new commercial featuring me will air during the Ravens-Chiefs game on NBC, which promises to be thrilling. This year, I’m fully invested in football, cheering for my Colts, Broncos, and Tennessee Volunteers. I’m hoping for an excellent Monday Night Football schedule for Eli and myself. We have the Jets and the Niners scheduled for Monday night. Bill Belichick will be joining us as a permanent first-half guest, which is something new for Eli and me – we can’t wait to hear his insights. As always, my goal is to do good work, make many completions this year, and if the next year rolls around, I’ll approach it with the same determination.

As a passionate gamer diving into the world of sports broadcasting, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible transformation Manningcast has undergone. I’ve been intrigued by how you and Eli have managed to refine your production, creating a format that truly resonates with viewers. Now, I’m eager to learn more about this year’s addition of Bill Belichick. Could you share some insights on how you’ve been able to keep this unique broadcast fresh, while simultaneously strengthening its position as a cornerstone of ESPN’s offerings?

As an ardent fan, I’ve learned that ESPN wants our show, featuring Eli and me, to stand out. It’s not just about discussing football; it’s about offering something unique. The main duo, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, do a fantastic job, so we’re tasked with being different. Every offseason, we delve into what worked last year, what we can improve, and we thought, why not invite Bill Belichick? His insights on defense and tough coaching decisions would be invaluable. Plus, it gives me a bit more ammo when Eli teases me about my forehead!

In the second part of our show, we’ll continue featuring esteemed panelists who are passionate about football. Based on some feedback we’ve gathered, it appears fans enjoy hearing insights from celebrities who ardently support their team, while also being knowledgeable about the game. Towards the end of the match, perhaps around the crucial fourth quarter, we may bring in a current or former player to offer unique perspectives. Our aim is to cater to our audience’s preferences and continually improve our content. Working with Eli has been a delight, and I’ve enjoyed hosting these football enthusiasts on our show. The key factor is that they share our passion for the game. Conversing with people who love football as much as Eli and I do makes it all the more enjoyable.

“One aspect of the advertisement I found particularly appealing is how it reveals a part of your character that viewers might not always see during your Monday night shows. Could you share what it’s like for you to openly express this side of yourself?”

Reflecting on my experiences such as advertising nationwide, appearing on Monday Night Football, and hosting Saturday Night Live, I’ve come to understand that these opportunities all stemmed from my football career. However, the idea of a football player removing his helmet and creating a self-portrait painting is intriguing; I have no clue who the artist was, but it wasn’t half bad! My forehead was slightly underrepresented, and my neck appeared smaller than usual. I’m determined to find the talented individual behind this artwork because it bears a striking resemblance to me. Although I can’t vouch for its accuracy, I’ll take it as a compliment. In fact, I brought it home with me.

Football players often smile or show their sense of humor during games, which some spectators may misinterpret as a lack of focus or seriousness. However, taking off one’s helmet to laugh at oneself and demonstrate that one can have fun can help dispel this notion. Self-deprecation is a way to show that you don’t take yourself too seriously. For instance, I’ve always found it enjoyable to engage in such humor. Many football players share this sentiment. Unlike basketball or baseball players who do not wear helmets and thus can easily express their personalities, football players need to show their personality in off-field settings due to the helmet requirement. I’m grateful to Nationwide for allowing me to do it. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since we started working together. People often quote lines from previous Nationwide commercials to me, such as “chicken parm, you taste so good.” These advertisements seem to resonate with people and are memorable. I hope the new ones debuting tonight will also be well-received.

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2024-09-06 02:55