ESPN offered Peyton Manning a job alongside Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters as a “Monday Night Football” commentator, but the former quarterback turned the network down, according to a report by Michael McCarthy of Sporting News.
After a debut season filled with missteps behind the mike, Jason Witten surprisingly ended his retirement and returned to the Dallas Cowboys, creating an opening in the “MNF” booth.
Manning rebuffed ESPN’s television offer but he will have a working relationship with the network in 2019. After hosting a show on ESPN Plus called “Details” last year, Manning will return to the subscription streaming service this year to host a 30-episode show about NFL history leading up to the league’s 100th season.
The fact that Manning is working for ESPN Plus is probably a good sign for the network’s chances of luring him into the booth down the road.
Manning recently had “serious discussions” with the Indianapolis Colts about a front office job but ultimately decided against it.
Perhaps in the future — maybe after his brother Eli retires — Peyton will change his mind and join a broadcast booth. If he does eventually change his mind, ESPN seems to be the front-runner to land his services.
Manning, 43, retired from the NFL after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos in 2016. He will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
