Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has had a famously long career. In Sunday night’s Super Bowl game — which the Broncos won, beating the Carolina Panthers 24-10 — he became the oldest quarterback to ever start in the championship, nearly two decades after he was first drafted to the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.
The photo above contrasts his most recent Super Bowl — his fourth — with his first appearance in the championship game. That was Super Bowl XLI, in February 2007, when the Colts trumped the Chicago Bears 29-17.
Football's Favorite Family: Photos of a Young Peyton Manning
A 1981 family portrait shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, center, with wife Olivia and sons, from left, Eli, Cooper, and Peyton at their home in New Orleans.Lane Stewart—Sports IllustratedThe Manning family poses for a portrait on University of Mississippi campus in 1993. From left, Cooper Manning, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Olivia Manning and Archie Manning. Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedA 1993 photo shows Peyton Manning in action as quarterback for Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedPeyton Manning played quarterback in college football with the Tennessee Volunteers, seen here in the locker room circa 1995 in Knoxville, Tenn.Doug Devoe—Sporting News/Getty ImagesTennessee quarterback Peyton Manning carrying brothers Eli and Cooper on back.
New Orleans, LA 7/11/1996
MANDATORY CREDIT: Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated
SetNumber: X51068Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedFrom front left, Peyton Manning poses for a portrait with brother Cooper, mother Olivia, father Archie and brother Eli at their home in
New Orleans in July 1996. Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedPeyton Manning was selected as the first overall draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts on April 18, 1998. He is introduced by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue at the 1998 NFL Draft in New York.Al Pereira—NFL/Getty ImagesFrom left, Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning run a practice drill for high school quarterbacks at the Manning Passing Academy in Hammond, La. in 2002. Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedThe Mannings pose for a portrait at the Manning Passing Academy in 2003. Clockwise from top left are Archie, Eli, Peyton and Cooper.Bill Frakes—Sports IllustratedThe Mannings pose for a portrait in 2004. From left are Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.Sporting News/Icon SMI