Peyton Manning sheds light about his potential interest in owning the Broncos

DENVER — Just like the glory days, Sunday in Denver was all about Peyton Manning.

No. 18 had his Ring-of-Fame bust unveiled before the game in front of thousands of fans.

At half time, Manning’s name in the Ring of Fame was displayed for the first time.

To top it all off, as he walked off the field, Peyton put on an orange No. 18 jersey and tossed one more touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley from 35 yards out.

The crowd went wild.

Sunday was about recognizing and honoring Manning for all he did for the Broncos during his four years with the team from 2012-2015.

But Peyton sprinkled in a little hope to Broncos Country that his time with the Denver Broncos isn’t necessarily just in the past.

Donning his blaze-orange Ring-of-Fame jacket, Manning was asked if he would be interested in a management or ownership role with the Broncos as Joe Ellis has made it clear the team will have a new owner at some point next year. The Hall of Famer gave a dash of coach speak, along with a sprinkle of hope.

“I haven’t had any serious conversations with anyone,” Manning stated. “Certainly there are people that have called me to kind of say, ‘Hey what do you think is going to happen to the Broncos? Are you going to try and own the team?’ I’m like, ‘I keep looking for that $3 billion in my pocket. I can’t find it. I think it’s in a hidden account somewhere.’ So that’s not really on my radar.”

As Manning acknowledged, with the Broncos valued at $3.75 billion, according to Forbes, he wouldn’t be the sole owner of the team even if he were interested. Instead, Manning would be part of an ownership group.

“People are obviously interested. They are curious,” Manning stated about the uncertain future about who will be the team’s next owner. “I care because I live here and I go to the games and I want to know what’s going to happen like everybody else. But I’ve had no relationship or agreement with anybody.”

Ellis has made it clear that he will not make any decisions about whether to sell the team or keep it in the Bowlen family until after the season. However, at this point, it would be surprising if the team is not put for sale.

This impacts Manning because if he is interested in being part of a group to own the team, he would not have to have any formal commitment now. That commitment and interest would need to come shortly after the start of the new year, when it’s expected the team will be put for sale.

“Even if I am offered an opportunity, I haven’t decided whether I would even do it,” Manning stated. “I actually like what I’m doing now. I get to stay close to the game. The one positive out of COVID is that you can actually broadcast a game remotely. I do [the Monday Night Football Manning Cast] in my buddies garage. Eli does it in his back house.”

“I get to coach Marshall’s flag football team. I went to a doubleheader softball game yesterday to see Mosley play,” Manning continued, discussing his busy life in retirement. “If you’re broadcasting, you can’t do that, right? And I still get to be a fan of the game. I’m just taking everything at a one year at a time basis. Next year, who knows how I feel. I’ll always be part of the Broncos in some way. I’ll say that.”

This year doesn’t matter. Next year is when it counts. And Peyton Manning didn’t close the door to being interested in having a stake in the Broncos.