Peyton Manning Recalled Fighting With Eli Manning Over Working With Matthew Stafford at a 2008 Camp

In 2008, Peyton Manning was the starting quarterback for Denver Broncos and Eli Manning was on the New York Giants. The two quarterbacks were working at a training camp in Louisiana when tension boiled over between them. In an interview with ESPN, Peyton said he “started to fight” his brother after being asked about how their relationship is now:

Peyton Manning is a retired quarterback that played for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. He has had a long career in professional football, and he is also known for his work with the Tennessee Volunteers. In 2008, he was invited to be a counselor at a football camp for high school students. However, Eli Manning, another former NFL player, was also invited to be on staff. The two brothers got into an argument over who would coach the players during practice sessions. Read more in detail here: matthew stafford college.

Peyton Manning Recalled Fighting With Eli Manning Over Working With Matthew Stafford at a 2008 Camp

Highlights of the article:

  • At a 2008 camp, Peyton and Eli Manning fought over who got to throw with Stafford, Matthew.
  • Stafford, who was still a student at the University of Georgia at the time, attended Manning Passing Academy that year.
  • During an interview on Monday Night Football With Peyton and Eli, the three quarterbacks connected over their experiences.

Since taking the stage at the 2009 NFL Draft as a baby-faced, curly-haired quarterback wearing a Detroit Lions jersey, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stafford, Matthew has come a long way.

Stafford attended the Manning Passing Academy before of his last season at the University of Georgia, almost 15 years before he led the Rams to an NFC West championship. He spent time with Peyton and Eli Manning that summer, and had a life-changing encounter with the two famous quarterbacks.

On the ‘ManningCast’ earlier this season, Peyton and Eli Manning had a good time swapping recollections with Stafford, Matthew.

Over 1,200 young football players go to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, each summer to attend the Manning Passing Academy for four days. Top active college football players are usually recruited as voluntary coaches by the renowned family.

Stafford, who was then a junior at Georgia, served as a coach during the 2008 camp. On an 11-2 Bulldogs squad a year ago, he completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 2,523 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

On the Sept. 27 broadcast of Monday Night Football With Peyton and Eli, the Rams quarterback reminisced about his four days with the brothers. Peyton recalls being really pleased by the then-college gunslinger at one point during the talk.

“Eli and I were debating who should throw after you since you were throwing the tightest spiral.” I recall you throwing a post route and waiting until the receiver was about 60 yards away before throwing it. To make a pass of 60 yards, I’d have to hit the cut-off guy.”

Peyton Manning is a quarterback who has won many Super Bowls

Peyton also used the chance to take a shot at Eli, as is customary on the ManningCast.

“Because Eli was younger, I told him, ‘Eli, you go after Stafford because your throw will be extremely disappointing after his tight spiral,’” Peyton said.

Stafford remembered his time with the Manning brothers favorably.

Stafford, Matthew (L) and Eli Manning in 2010.

Stafford, Matthew (L) and Eli Manning in 2010. Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Creative Artists Agency via Getty Images | Stafford, Matthew (L) and Eli Manning in 2010, less than two years after they met at the Manning Passing Academy | Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Creative Artists Agency via Getty Images

Eli Manning and Peyton Manning were the talk of the NFL when Stafford arrived to the camp in 2008. Eli had upset the widely fancied New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42 by a score of 18-0. Peyton, a two-time NFL MVP at the time, had already earned his first ring a year before.

Stafford claimed he “had a fun” during the camp and loved spending time with the two Super Bowl MVPs during the chat.

“I know throwing next to you guys is a once-in-a-lifetime event for a man like me….” I remember pinching myself and thinking to myself, “How blessed am I to be able to work out with you guys.”

Stafford, Matthew

Stafford was not doomed by the ‘Manning curse’ later that year. He was taken first overall in the 2009 draft after finishing the 2008 season with a 61.4 completion %, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Cooper Kupp, a Rams wide receiver, has a fascinating connection to the Manning brothers and their camp.

Stafford isn’t the only current Rams player that has ties to the Manning Passing Academy. Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington, whose grandpa blocked for Peyton and Eli’s father, Archie, on the New Orleans Saints, subsequently attended the camp in 2014 and 2015.

Peyton informed Eli during the 2015 camp that he wanted to throw to Kupp, according to Rams general manager Les Snead in a January 2022 interview with NBC Sports. Kupp was so impressive that Snead, who wasn’t sure whether the receiver was a high school prospect or a college player, jotted down his name and kept track of his development.

The Rams selected Kupp in the third round of the 2017 draft and will pair him with Stafford in 2021. In his first season with Stafford, Kupp had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, comfortably claiming the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown.

Stafford, Kupp, and the Rams’ Wild Card Round matchup with the Arizona Cardinals were given to the Manning brothers in an even crazier twist. Sometimes things truly do come full circle.

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