Peyton Manning, who will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, will be in Canton, Ohio, this summer to watch one of his former bosses and a former teammate get inducted.
Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and former cornerback Champ Bailey will be part of this year’s Hall of Fame class, and Manning will be in attendance when their bronze busts are unveiled.
“I played against Champ in college, played against Champ when was with the Redskins, played against him in Denver,” Manning said last week via KMGH-TV’s Troy Renck. “And played with him here — what an unbelievable career. …
“And then a huge reason that I came to Denver was I knew Mr. Bowlen was all about winning. And I knew that I was on the clock and wasn’t going to be able to play 12 more years. I knew the Broncos were about winnng and winning now. I am looking forward to being in Canton when they go in.”
Manning helped Bowlen continuing his winning ways by helping the Broncos win the AFC West four straight years during his time in Denver. Manning also helped the Broncos reach two Super Bowls, winning one after the 2015 season, before retiring from the NFL.
Denver will face the Atlanta Falcons in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 1. Bowlen and Bailey will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame two days later. The preseason game will air on NBC, and the enshrinement ceremony will air on NFL Network.
