Manning, "Archie" (Elisha Archie Jr.)
Football
b. May 19, 1949, Drew, MS
A very athletic quarterback, the 6-3, 212-pound Manning played at the University of Mississippi and was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1971 NFL college draft.
He became a starter before the end of his rookie season and in his second year, 1972, he led the league with 448 passing attempts and 230 completions. Playing for a poor team, Manning had to pass a great deal, which probably caused the severe tendinitis in his right shoulder that kept on the sidelines for the entire 1976 season.
United Press International named Manning the National Football Conference player of the year in 1978, when he completed 291 of 471 passes for 3,416 yards and 17 touchdowns.
During the 1982 season, Manning was traded to the Houston Oilers and he went to the Minnesota Vikings the following year. He retired after the 1984 season.
Manning finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in his senior year. Two of his sons, Peyton and Eli, are also quarterbacks who came close to the Heisman. Peyton finished second in the voting in 1997, his senior season at Tennessee, and Eli finished third in 2003, his senior year at Mississippi.
