Peyton Manning and Tom Brady’s rivalry is one of the most iconic in NFL history, spanning 17 head-to-head matchups over the course of their careers. Brady leads the series with 11 wins to Manning’s 6, including a 2-2 record in playoff games and epic moments. Statistically, Manning outperformed Brady in their regular season meetings, throwing for 4,985 yards and 35 touchdowns to Brady’s 4,322 yards and 30 touchdowns. Both quarterbacks stand out during their careers with Manning having the most MVP awards (5) and of course Brady being considered the GOAT with his seven Super Bowl rings.
Manning Calls Out Brady and Belichick for Stealing Colts Play
Even in retirement, the rivalry between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady continues to spark lighthearted drama. Manning, who now co-hosts “The Breakdown” with Bill Belichick, recently accused Brady, Belichick and Rob Gronkowski of stealing a play from the Colts’ playbook during his playing days. “Y’all stole this play from us… Gronk & Brady should’ve sent me a check every time they ran this play because they copied it from our Colts offense,” Manning joked in a recent episode. Brady wasted no time firing back, commenting on the Instagram post featuring the clip, “Checks in the mail.”
Belichick, true to form, admitted the play was copied and credited Manning for its success. He sarcastically added that Gronkowski owes his Hall of Fame-worthy career, including 9,286 receiving yards, to the stolen play. The exchange underscores the NFL’s reputation as a “copycat league,” where successful plays are often copied and reimagined by rival teams. Manning’s playful jab and Brady’s quick response show that even after years of competition, the camaraderie – and friendly rivalry – between these legends remains intact. Ultimately, they are the best of a generation and of history, and I personally have always preferred Manning, despite having more head-to-head losses.
Life After Manning and Brady Ain’t Easy
The impact of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on their respective teams is undeniable, and both franchises have faced significant challenges since their departures. For the Colts, Manning’s absence has left a void that’s been difficult to fill. The team had an outstanding season with Andrew Luck in 2014, reaching the AFC Championship Gameonly to suffer a brutal 45-7 loss to Brady’s Patriots. Since then, Indianapolis has struggled to remain relevant in the playoff picture. As for the Broncos, while Manning capped his career with a Super Bowl victory in 2015, the team has yet to make another playoff appearance. Sharing a division with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs hasn’t helped, but the post-Manning era has been anything but inspiring.
The Patriots have struggled similarly since Brady’s departure in 2019. Despite a solid 2021 campaign, the team has won just seven games combined over the past two seasons, their worst stretch since the early 1990s. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has managed to remain competitive with Baker Mayfield at the helm, but many attribute that to the strong foundation built during Brady’s tenure. Still, a Super Bowl appearance for the Buccaneers seems unlikely in the near future.
The continued success of these two legendary quarterbacks underscores how transformative their presence has been, not only for their teams, but for the league itself.
