Colts to retire Manning’s No. 18, salute QB with statue, Ring of Honor
May 9, 2017, 2:36 PM
One day, Peyton Manning’s bust will help line the halls of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. But first, his number will rise to the rafters at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Manning’s No. 18 will be officially retired by the Indianapolis Colts later this fall, the team announced via its website Tuesday afternoon. The club will also erect a statue of the two-time Super Bowl champion on the north side of the stadium and induct him into the Ring of Honor.
The likeness of Manning will be unveiled on Oct. 7, and the following day — during halftime of the Colts’ Week 5 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers — he’ll be inducted into the Ring of Honor and have his number retired.
“Peyton will always be a Colt,” Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay told the team’s website. “This will be an event our city, state, and Colts fans around the world can celebrate and be proud of.”
It’ll likely be the first of many post-career honors Manning will receive, which will likely include his election to the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.
During Manning’s retirement press conference, Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said, “Congratulations on your retirement, and I know all of us here look forward to your Ring of Fame induction and your Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.”
Manning is far-and-away the leader in most of the Colts career passing records, including yards (54,828), touchdowns (399), completions (4,682), and completion percentage (64.9).
No. 18 also ranks among the best Broncos passers all-time as well, coming in second to Hall of Famer John Elway in yards, touchdowns, and completions, and leading the team in completion percentage (66.5), touchdown percentage (6.5), yards per game (295.0), and quarterback rating (101.7).
Denver, however, will not retire No. 18 to honor Manning, as it’s already retired to salute the franchise’s first quarterback Frank Tripucka.
The number was briefly unretired during Manning’s tenure (2012-2015) with the blessing of Tripucka’s family, and Manning’s name adorns the bottom of the No. 18 panel at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
