Key Takeaways:
- College football player Arch Manning is the starting quarterback for the University of Texas.
- The redshirt sophomore comes from a famous football family that includes his grandfather Archie Manning; his uncles Peyton and Eli Manning; and his father, Cooper Manning.
- The Manning family has a history of being supportive but not overbearing when it comes to achieving greatness on the field.
Arch Manning is set to lead the No. 1–ranked University of Texas football team and is a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, the sport’s biggest individual honor at the collegiate level. He’s also the highest-paid college athlete with name, image, and likeness deals reportedly valued at almost $7 million. Factor in his place among one of the most famous families in football, and the 20-year-old quarterback is the must-watch star of 2025.
Arch is the latest Manning to grab headlines, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Archie Manning; his uncles Peyton and Eli Manning; and his father, Cooper Manning. Altogether, the family has combined to win four Super Bowl titles and tally more than 1,000 NFL touchdowns.
Arch, only a redshirt sophomore, might not be in the league yet, but he seems to be handling the pressure of his famous lineage like a pro.
“I’m just here to play football. It’s a game I love, grew up playing. You’re out there with your friends playing every Saturday—what could get better than that?” Arch told ESPN’s Marty Smith in January. “I’m not here to take someone off the throne or, like, I’m not worried about my legacy. I’m just worried about playing ball and winning games.”
Before Arch tries to do just that in the season opener against Ohio State on August 30, here’s everything you need to know about the members of the Manning dynasty before him.
Archie Manning
Relation to Arch: Grandfather
Archie Manning, 76, became the first member of the family to achieve football stardom—but only after experiencing a personal tragedy.
As documented in The Mannings: The Fall and Rise of a Football Family, Archie was preparing for his second season as quarterback of the University of Mississippi team in 1969 when his father, Buddy, died from a self-inflicted gunshot inside their home. Heartbroken, then-20-year-old Archie decided to drop out and find a coaching job to support his family in Drew, Mississippi. But his mother, Sis, firmly rejected the idea and told him to return to school.
Playing with a heavy heart, Archie made the all-SEC team and finished top-five in Heisman Trophy voting his next two seasons. He was drafted No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1971 and played 13 years in the NFL with three different teams. Despite his longevity, Archie only won 35 games as a starter and never made the playoffs.
Off the field, Archie met Olivia Williams while at Ole Miss. The couple married in 1971 and had three sons: Cooper, Peyton, and Eli. Although Archie laid the foundation for their careers, he largely let his children achieve their athletic accomplishments on their own. “I think the first thing that my sons will tell you, that I never tried to be their coach,” he said. “And I didn’t give them as much advice as some people might think, being a former player myself and a former quarterback. If they asked, I gave them my opinion.”
Archie also keeps close tabs on his grandson and recently made headlines when he suggested Arch plans to stay with Texas at least through the 2026 season—instead of going to the NFL or transferring to another school. Arch denied any future intentions, and his grandfather later apologized. “Arch and I have a really good grandson-grandfather relationship, but I haven’t been part of this football journey,” Archie said.
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Cooper Manning
Relation to Arch: Father
The eldest of Archie’s sons, Cooper Manning, born in March 1974, was set to follow in his father’s footsteps. An all-state wide receiver at Isadore Newman High School in New Orleans, he was recruited by several major schools but chose to also attend Ole Miss on a scholarship.
Only he never took a snap for the Rebels. Prior to his freshman season in 1992, Cooper began experiencing numbness in his fingers and toes. It turned out he had spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spinal canal. With one wrongly placed hit enough to potentially paralyze him, Cooper had to quit football.
From that point, he fully threw his support at younger brother Peyton. “I would like to live my dream of playing football through you,” Cooper wrote in a letter to his sibling. “Although I cannot play anymore, I know I can still get the same feeling out of watching my little brother do what he does best. I know now that we are good for each other, because I need you to be serious and look at things from a different perspective.”
The sidelined Cooper then embarked on a career in business and media. The 51-year-old is a principal and senior managing director of investor relations at AJ Capital Partners and contributes to FOX’s NFL coverage as host of “The Manning Hour” segment.
Cooper married Ellen Heidingsfelder in 1999, and the pair have three children, including Arch. Arch’s older sister is named May and his younger brother is Heid.
Earlier this year, Cooper spoke about his expectations for Arch’s first season as the Texas starter and how he’ll support his son. “You don’t want your kiddos to come home and be unhappy, but at the same time, sometimes going through a little hardship and some bumps in the road are good,” he said. “Arch is going to have plenty more of those.”
Peyton Manning
Relation to Arch: Uncle
Even Cooper couldn’t have imagined just how successful his younger brother Peyton Manning’s career would be.
Born in March 1976, Peyton deviated from family tradition by attending the University of Tennessee, where he threw 89 touchdowns in four seasons from 1994 through 1997 and later had his jersey retired. He then one-upped his father, Archie, as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. The QB won Super Bowls in 2007 and 2016 with the Colts and Broncos, respectively. Peyton retired weeks after winning his second title and currently ranks third all-time in passing yards behind Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
Chances are you’ve seen Peyton on TV—perhaps hosting the game show College Bowl with Cooper or the popular ManningCast with younger sibling, Eli, during the weekly Monday night NFL game. Not to mention he had one of the funniest athlete skits in Saturday Night Live history.
Given his own football commitments and projects, the 49-year-old Hall of Famer was unable to attend his nephew’s games in childhood. However, Arch often asks his uncle Peyton for football insights over the phone. “His dad, Cooper, has done a great job raising him. They’re very close. I just want to be there to help and support him,” Peyton told Pro Football Focus. “He came out to Denver two years ago. We watched some film together. We threw together. But that was his idea wanting to come to me. That’s kind of how our relationship goes.”
Eli Manning
Relation to Arch: Uncle
Arch can brag he had two uncles selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft, as Eli Manning also achieved the feat to begin a noteworthy NFL career.
Born in January 1981, Eli was a three-year starting quarterback at Ole Miss before joining the pros with the New York Giants in 2004 (He was technically drafted by the San Diego Chargers, who traded him almost immediately in a pre-arranged deal). Like his older brother Peyton, Eli won two Super Bowls, in 2008 and 2012. He retired in January 2020 and currently ranks 11th in all-time NFL passing yards.
In addition to hosting the ManningCast with Peyton, Eli serves as an executive producer for the upcoming Hulu comedy series Chad Powers. Actor Glen Powell plays the titular character, a disgraced quarterback who dons an elaborate physical disguise to restart his career with another team.
Arch previously shared the biggest piece of advice he received from Eli and Peyton and how it relates to handling the pressure of playing for one of the country’s best teams. “It kind of all ladders down: Just have fun, be a good guy, and be all about the team,” Arch explained.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
