Football's Quarterback Dynasty

Archie Manning never played for a winning NFL team, but his two sons, Peyton and Eli are now starting quarterbacks for NFL teams with winning records. Instead, Archie toiled away for most of his professional career with the New Orleans Saints. During his years with the Saints they never had a winning season. Late in his career he was traded first to the Houston Oilers and then to the Minnesota Vikings, but bad luck must like Mr. Manning, for neither one of these teams had a winning season either. Despite this background Archie posted some very impressive stats and made two trips to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979.

Archie's college days were a bit more successful, as he lead Ole Miss to several winning seasons and was the second overall pick in the 1971 draft. He also participated in the first nationally televised college football game in 1969, when he lead his Ole Miss team up against Bear Bryant's notorious Crimson Tide. Mississippi lost by one point in that contest.

Archie may have been the unfortunate loser back in the 70's, but oh my how things have turned around now as two of his three sons are competing in back to back Super Bowls for the ultimate victory. One son, Peyton, has already found his place in the record books, and in a few days, his brother, Eli, will attempt to join him with an upset victory over the undefeated Patriots. A perfect ending to this story may not sit well with the Patriots.

Not many sports fan are aware that Archie's oldest son, Cooper, also was a promising football player. In high school he was a standout wide receiver, who made the Louisiana all-state team and was heavily recruited by Division I schools. After his senior year Cooper was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and was no longer able to play football. This condition was cured with a successful surgery and today Cooper is a successful businessman with a healthy family.

The same year that Cooper underwent back surgery, Peyton began his quarterback career by winning the starting position at his high school, the Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans. Peyton went on to Tennessee and then was drafted first in the overall NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 draft. Eli attended Ole Miss and like his brother, he was also a number one draft choice. The Giants picked him in 2004.

All in all this is quite an impressive story. To have three family members drafted so high into the pro ranks is simply unheard of. One has to go back to the days of the DiMaggio brothers to find such excellence in professional sports. (not many people know that Joe had two brothers, Vince and Dom, who sometimes competed in the All-star games along with their famous sibling) Today, Archie has to be the big "winner", while at the same time being a great example for the old cliché, "winning isn't everything".

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Manning
http://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/baseball_trivia_016b.html