Archie Manning hopes that Arch Manning will finish out his entire college football career at Texas before he declares for the NFL. From there, the legendary patriarch of the Manning family does not have a preferred destination for his grandson despite his hypothetical prophecy about the Dallas Cowboys.
A video that went viral on social media earlier this month turned into something much bigger than he ever expected.
Both of Archie’s sons, Peyton and Eli, were drafted No. 1 overall in their respective NFL Drafts. Their father helped to change the course of New York Giants history when he did not allow Eli to play for the San Diego Chargers. There was some chatter that the Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints legend could take a similar approach to Arch’s future after his playful comments last week.
The 72-year-old was approached by a patron at his bar in the Big Easy with a hypothetical situation about his grandson’s career trajectory. The patron shoved a camera in Archie’s face and asked him where he wants Arch to play as a pro. He threw out the Cowboys.
ARCHIE MANNING WANTS ARCH TO PLAY FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS 👀
— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) December 6, 2024
COULD YOU IMAGINE!? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/yhlDAKpW3F
First and foremost, the guy with the phone is the perfect example of the declining decorum in society. There is no need to force a phone upon an unsuspecting celebrity in the name of clout.
It was also pretty clear that Archie was not serious. He played along because he is an overwhelmingly nice individual. Dallas was the first team that came to mind.
Archie Manning was not demanding the Cowboys to draft Arch Manning— in three years. And yet, the headlines still ran with it.
“Archie Manning reveals which NFL team he wants grandson Arch to play for”
“Arch Manning to Replace Cowboys’ Dak Prescott? Legendary Grandpa Hopes So”
“Arch Manning to the Cowboys?”
“Arch Manning to Cowboys rumors circulating after new comments”
“Arch Manning to the Cowboys? NFL legend Archie Manning wants grandson to play for Dallas after Texas career”
Sports Illustrated decided to follow-up on Archie’s hypothetical comment about Arch’s NFL future. He very quickly shut it down.
That is something that just kind of got out of hand. I was just being nice to a patron. I told him I hoped Arch would play three years of college football, and he said “And then maybe to the Cowboys?” I said “That’d be fine with me.”
I didn’t know he was going to put that on TikTok or whatever, I don’t know what TikTok is. I didn’t know it was going to go viral, as they say.
— Archie Manning
Even though that isn’t quite how the exchange actually went down, Archie Manning’s point stands. He was just trying to be a nice guy. He doesn’t actually care if Arch Manning plays for the Cowboys or not.