When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie's
appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have
been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He
was recently selected Father of the Year by the National Father's Day
Council. He currently serves in public relations and consulting
capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including
Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports. For 25 years he
hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in
Louisiana and Mississippi and is active in a wide variety of charitable
and civic causes.
Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Mississippi. He attended the
University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback
and is the only Ole Miss player to have his number retired. He was
voted Mississippi's Greatest All-Time Athlete in 1992, and recently
named Mississippi's Most Popular Athlete of the Century. He was elected
to the 50-Year All-South Team (1940-1990), named one of the Top 25
Athletes of the Century in Louisiana and he and his son Peyton were
named among the 100 All-Time Greatest College Football Players. Archie
was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame
and is a member of other Halls of Fame including Louisiana and
Mississippi.
In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft - the
number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints
passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most
Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to
be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. He concluded his
15-year career in 1985. He was also drafted four times by major league
baseball. While in pro football, he received the Byron "Whizzer" White
Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of
Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters
Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young
Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey
O'Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life's coaches,
from the Cal Ripken Foundation.
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New
Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers
Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation,
and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of
Directors. Archie and his wife Olivia reside in New Orleans and have
three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli.
Mr. Manning joined the NFF Board of Directors in 1993 and became chairman in 2008.
