It's been more than a week since NFL fans heard Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning tell New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick "this might be my last rodeo," but it seems more certain now, as Manning, one of the NFL's all-time greats, has already told close friends that he expects Super Bowl 50 to be his last game, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
There is no official word from Manning, but the 39-year-old quarterback will reportedly look to walk off into the sunset as a Super Bowl champion next Sunday. The Broncos quarterback is trying to win his second Super Bowl in his career but has already solidified himself as one of the greatest players ever.
Manning is considered by many to be the all-time greatest regular season quarterback and has won a record five NFL league MVP awards to back it up. The first pick in the 1999 NFL Draft holds some of the greatest records in football and broke the NFL's career passing yards record earlier this season.
Manning holds the single-season passing yards and touchdowns record as well and is tied for the most regular season and playoffs wins for a quarterback all time with 199 wins. Manning has continued to set records well into his 18-year NFL career and has now become the first quarterback to reach the Super Bowl with four different head coaches (Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, John Fox and Gary Kubiak).
It's unknown when Manning will announce his retirement, but the future Hall of Famer is likely 100 percent focused on Super Bowl 50, as he has consistently been known throughout his career for his preparation. The Broncos quarterback will look to walk out on top but knows he faces arguably the toughest challenge in his career as he squares off with the team that finished with the best record in the NFL this past season in the Carolina Panthers.
