Getty Image
Peyton Manning grew synonymous with the term “Omaha” throughout his NFL career, using the play call an ungodly number of times while reading opposing defenses. Viewers often heard the quarterback shouting the call at the line of scrimmage as hot mics picked up his direction for teammates.
It got to the point where Manning was landing advertising deals relating to the central Nebraska city name, even going as far as to name his entertainment company Omaha Productions.
Many have tried to decipher the audible’s meaning, though few have been successful. Manning isn’t letting the secret slip.
It’s all been a lie, though.
Peyton’s brother Eli Manning appeared on the Dan Patrick Show this week to set the record straight. He claims that the term was stolen from Eli, himself, who actually swiped it from Tom Brady.
.@EliManning sets the record straight that he actually used the audible call “Omaha” WAY before his brother Peyton. And admits that he technically stole it from @TomBrady.
Eli’s full appearance: https://t.co/9jEv1ojNJG pic.twitter.com/SXXEJoMph4
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 9, 2023
“First off, I think we’ve got to set the record straight,” said Eli. “I used ‘Omaha’ WAY before Peyton ever used it. He stole it… It was in our playbook. It was a word, and he used it the exact same way.”
Manning then got even more honest with his audience, noting that he wasn’t the originator of the call either.
“My rookie season, John Hufnagel was our offensive coordinator. He’d come from New England, and he brought it from New England. So, I stole it, technically, from Tom Brady.”
Peyton Manning has benefitted immensely from stolen ‘Omaha’ term
With the call gaining mainstream attention, it wound up benefitting Peyton both on and off the field.
He landed a key to the city, scooped up some free Omaha steaks, and named his entertainment company Omaha Productions.
It’s been quite lucrative for the passer, which his brother alluded to in that interview with Dan Patrick.
Maybe he owes Eli and TB12 some compensation?
In his defense, Peyton has been asked about the term before, and he’s not too proud to admit that he didn’t create it.
@pardonmytake Peyton getting credit for “Omaha” is actually stolen valor #NFL #Omaha #PeytonManning #HallOfFame ♬ original sound – pardonmytake
Still, it will forever be linked to his Hall of Fame career.