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Peyton Manning cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL during his legendary career, and he’s done very well for himself with the various ventures he’s turned to since retiring. That’s somewhat surprising when you consider he wasn’t exactly known for his personality while in the league, but it’s probably not a huge shock to anyone who saw him host Saturday Night Live for the first time.
Manning routinely lets his sense of humor shine alongside his brother Eli on the wildly successful Manningcast, and while he can come off as a little corny at times, it’s hard not to be impressed by the second act we’ve been treated to since the Monday Night Football simulcast debuted in 2021.
The man who spent 17 seasons in the NFL was obviously no stranger to being in front of the camera before linking up with ESPN, and while he was never going to take Hollywood by storm, he was more than able to hold his own in the many commercials he appeared in during (and after) his playing days.
During that time, he also got the chance to become one of the many athletes who’ve been tasked with hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live.
If you’ve kept tabs on the show over the years, you know those installments can be very hit-or-miss, but Peyton knocked it out of the park while arguably setting the mark every other person who gets paid to play a sport for a living will be measured against inside Studio 8H.
Peyton Manning truly outdid himself as the host of Saturday Night Live
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On March 24, 2007, Manning celebrated his 31st birthday by heading to 30 Rock to host Saturday Night Live less than two months after leading the Colts to a victory over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Peyton used the monologue to tease what was in store; he poked fun at himself for being unable to say “No” to seemingly any commercial he was offered, took a jab at Tom Brady and the Patriots, and made fun of his mom for not making it to the NFL after introducing her along with Eli and their father Archie.
Peyton’s first sketch of the night saw him hosting the fictional “ESPN NCAA Tournament Pool Party” alongside Jason Sudeikis. While it’s difficult to track down a video, it featured the SNL cast member using “Peyton Manning” as a codeword while referring to teams who choked in the clutch, which gave the QB a chance to defend his honor.
It was a pretty average bit, but things really started to heat up when Manning stepped into the role of a basketball player on a team coached by Will Forte, who turned to a tune by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass to try to motivate his squad. It was an objectively silly premise, but one that Peyton really leaned into before showing off his dance moves.
However, the best sketch of the night was undoubtedly the “Digital Short” showing the work he’d supposedly done with the United Way.
I don’t know why, but this one really got me.
I don’t think I’m alone when I say that clip was the first time I thought to myself, “Wait, is Peyton Manning…actually funny?” Up to this point, I primarily knew him as a pretty straight-laced guy who’d had trouble stepping up in big moments, so seeing him embrace the “Bad Boy” image while mocking his audible calls and other aspects of his personality made an already fantastic concept land incredibly well.
Manning hasn’t returned to SNL to host for a second time, but he made a good enough impression to get invited back for a guest appearance on “Weekend Update” in 2022 to break down the NFL playoffs.
Look, I’m not saying Peyton Manning is the funniest guy on the planet (or even the funniest professional athlete—a label I’d probably reserve for Marshawn Lynch), and while his sense of humor may not be for everyone, the man knows how to hold his own on one of the biggest comedic stages a person can grace.
Tom Brady might be the G.O.A.T. when it comes to the NFL quarterbacks who’ve achieved the most on the gridiron,
but the QB (who also got the chance to host SNL a couple of years before his longtime rival) never came close to matching Manning, who is probably the G.O.A.T. when it comes to the players who’ve gotten the same opportunity.