Peyton Manning signs revised contract

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Peyton Manning passed his physical and signed his revised contract Thursday.

“We’re glad to work something out with Peyton so that he will be part of our team this season,” general manager John Elway said.

The five-time MVP agreed to a $4 million pay cut to $15 million, but he can earn all of it back through incentives, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details weren’t publicized.

He’d get $2 million each for winning the AFC title and the Super Bowl.

Manning mulled retirement after the Broncos’ playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts. But he determined he still had the health and hunger to keep playing at age 39 and keep pursuing another Super Bowl title.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Manning, who won a title with the Colts in 2006, met with Elway a few weeks ago after taking some time to decompress from an arduous season and told him he wasn’t ready to retire. Elway asked him to take a pay cut and the sides hashed out a new deal Wednesday.

The deal was contingent on his passing his physical.

Every year, the Broncos medical staff takes a look at his surgically repaired neck to make sure there’s not any degeneration in the discs above and below the ones that were fused in 2011.

Manning didn’t meet with reporters after visiting team headquarters to get a clean bill of health and put his signature on the revised contract, which still calls for him to make $19 million in 2016.

Manning, who turns 39 on March 24, will return to Denver for the start of offseason workouts on April 13. Then, it’s time to adapt to new coach Gary Kubiak’s West Coast offense and continue his pursuit of a second Super Bowl trophy.

Along the way, he’ll almost certainly pad his thick Hall of Fame credentials by breaking Brett Favre’s records for most career passing yards and most regular season wins.

“We’re just excited to have him back,” said running back C.J. Anderson, who came off the bench at midseason last year to earn a Pro Bowl berth. “Of course, he just wants to go out there and win that ring. And we’re just trying to go out there and help him win it.

“I can’t wait to get to work with him and have a full season with him. And if he said he’s mentally and physically ready to play that doesn’t mean it’s at a sub-par level. It means it’s at a high level.”

Reminiscent of Favre’s annual flirtations with retirement, this saga plodded along as the Broncos and Manning’s agent Tom Condon reworked the contract.

The $4 million savings won’t drastically change Denver’s free agency plans. It gives Elway about $20 million to work with, but much of that will go to his own restricted free agents and a large draft class.

After dealing with a nagging thigh injury that hampered his performance down the stretch, Manning worked out this offseason in New Orleans with physical trainer Mackie Shilstone, renowned for helping athletes extend the twilight of their careers.

On Feb. 12, Manning flew to Denver in team owner Pat Bowlen’s jet to meet with Elway, CEO Joe Ellis and Kubiak. He also huddled with offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, who replaced Adam Gase, Manning’s co-pilot in Denver’s offense who followed John Fox to Chicago.

Kubiak has designed mainly West Coast offenses throughout his career that often require the quarterback to line up under center and roll out. Mobility has never been Manning’s forte; he’s been most comfortable making quick throws out of the shotgun in recent years.

Yet, Kubiak said it’s “easy to build a playbook” for Manning and was eager to mesh their styles.

Manning is all in. Recently, he remarked, “Aside maybe from Tubby Raymond’s Delaware Blue Hen Wing-T offense, I feel pretty comfortable playing in any offense.”

Manning has led the Broncos to the best record in the NFL in each of his three seasons in Denver following his tearful exit from Indianapolis so the Colts could draft Andrew Luck with the top pick.

Each time, the Broncos unraveled in the playoffs: a 35-point Super Bowl loss to Seattle and two stunning home flops following first-round byes.

Manning is 179-77 in the regular season. His nine one-and-out playoff performances are about the only blot on a career that features an unprecedented five MVP honors but half as many rings as brother Eli.

Manning owns most of the significant QB records and is 2,148 yards shy of breaking Favre’s career yardage record of 71,838. He’s also nine victories short of breaking Favre’s record of 186 career wins.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens junior Keira Isabelle Tupua winds up to throw the discus at the WIAA Track & Field State Championships in Tacoma, Washington on May 30, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Keira Isabelle Tupua overcomes family turmoil at track & field state

The Lake Stevens junior places top four in two events while missing her biggest supporter.

Everett AquaSox catcher Andrew Miller prepares to bat against the Spokane Indians at Funko Field on June 1, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Evan Morud, Everett AquaSox)
AquaSox flex muscles in 13-4 victory over Spokane

Powered by five home runs, including three consecutively, the Everett… Continue reading

Shorecrest senior Jackson Sketchley winds up for his third attempt, where he set the winning mark of 194 feet-eight inches, in the 3A Boys Javelin Throw at the WIAA Track & Field State Championships at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington on May 31, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorecrest’s Sketchley wins 3A Boys Javelin at state

The senior is the lone 3A boys athlete from the area to win a title.

Shorewood’s Niki Genadiev and Daniel Bruno runs after the ball during the 3A state championship game against Mercer Island on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Puyallup, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorewood “family” comes up short in state title game

The Stormrays couldn’t finish a late rally in a 3-2 loss to Mercer Island.

Glacier Peak’s Mateo Ganje, left, receives the baton from Isaiah Owens in the 4A boys 4x100 relay final on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Glacier Peak’s Ganje goes three-for-three on podium

Glacier Peak boys, Lake Stevens girls 4x100 each place second at 4A state track championships.

Runners pass by the stands at Mt. Tahoma high school in the 3A girls 3200 meter final on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorewood’s Enriquez claims girls 3A pole vault crown

The senior is the lone 3A girls athlete from the area to win a title.

Kamiak’s Miller Warme yells as he crosses the finish line in the 4A Boys 110 Hurdles final on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kamiak’s Warme, Arlington’s Scott take third in 4A Track

The Knights hurdler and Eagles thrower were two of seven area athletes to reach podium.

Shorewood’s Jaden Marlow looks to his left as he crosses the finish line in the 3A Boys 110 Hurdles final on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorewood’s Marlow earns two top-four places at state track

The junior takes fourth in the 110 hurdles and third in the pole vault.

Shorewood’s Niki Genadiev takes a penalty kick during the 3A state semifinal game against Ingraham on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Puyallup, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Genadiev nets hat trick, Shorewood advances to title game

Niki Genadiev scored all of No. 1 Shorewood’s goals in a 3-1 state semis win over No. 12 Ingraham.

Jeff Page spent 47 years coaching track & field at Lake Stevens, including 32 as the program's head coach. The boys and girls teams totaled 33 Wesco titles, and the boys won the 2022 4A State Championship during his stint as head coach. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Page)
Turning the Page: Lake Stevens track coach set to retire

Jeff Page to close out 47-year coaching career with Vikings after state championships.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Jackson baseball players cheer before starting their next exercise during practice on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jackson baseball’s bond of ‘brothers’ carries team to semis

The Timberwolves will play Friday for a spot in the Class 4A title game.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.