‘Not done with this game’: Peyton Manning delivers, making quick work of Pro Football Hall of Fame speech
The following written content by Josh Weir
CANTON, Ohio — Peyton Manning was up against the play clock Sunday night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Not surprisingly, he executed perfectly in hurry-up mode.
An all-time great at quarterback and an all-time entertainer off the field, Manning didn’t let this year’s time limit on speeches prevent him from giving a stirring address mixed with humor and emotion for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“The 2021 induction class wants to thank those previous inductees who gave long-winded acceptance speeches, forcing us to have a whopping six minutes to recap our football careers,” Manning deadpanned. “I want to give a special thanks to my old rival Ray Lewis for being here tonight. Ray just finished giving his speech he started in 2018.”
Manning didn’t exactly adhere to the 6-8 minute window the Hall asked for, as he clocked in at about nine minutes and 41 seconds.
“Next year, acceptance speeches will probably shrink to four minutes,” Manning said. “And speaking of rivals, my good friend Tom Brady is here tonight. … By the time Tom Brady is inducted in his first year of eligibility in the year 2035, he only will have time to post his acceptance speech on his Instagram account.”
Manning’s NFL career was 17 seasons of mostly brilliance, including two Super Bowl rings, five MVPs and too many passing records to list here. He was a first-ballot pick for the class of 2021.
He came up with a first-ballot fantasy, referencing John Madden’s idea that the Hall’s bronze busts talk to each other at night.
Manning took it step further, saying the busts play football at night. He dreamed of a winning play that included him finding Michael Irvin with a pass (while getting hit by Deacon Jones and Ray Nitschke) and ending with Steve Largent lateraling to Lance Alworth for the touchdown.
“Yesterday it was just a dream,” Manning said. “But tonight it’s reality.”
His voice quivered with emotion as he thanked his presenter and father Archie Manning, “my favorite quarterback, my hero, my role model.” Read more from USA Today.
