Archie Manning was one of football greatest quarterbacks ever. For people in Mississippi, the Manning family is legendary.  If his own career was not enough, his sons have now made a place for themselves in college and professional football.  Peyton with Tennessee and the Baltimore Colts and Eli with the University of Mississippi and a future top professional draft position in 2004.

Archie Manning was born as Elisha Archibald Manning III, on May 19, 1949, in Drew. He loved sports as a youth and excelled in all of them. The sport he had most passion for was football, and his great talent sent him to college to play football at the University of Mississippi,  While at  Ole Miss, Manning was named an All- American Quarterback. He is the only player to have his #18 jersey retired at Ole Miss. He still holds the Ole Miss record for total career  touchdowns at 56. He also ran for 823 yards and threw for 4,753 and scored 14 touchdowns.

In 1971 Manning entered the NFL draft. He was the second draft choice yet the #1 pick by the New Orleans Saints. While at the New Orleans Saints, Manning just started where he left off. He set passing records, played in pro bowls and was name Most Valuable Player in 1978. He wasn’t with the Saints his whole football career. He also played for Houston and Minnesota ending up playing for 14 years in the NFL.

Honors:
College Football Hall of Fame-1989
Third in Heisman Trophy race- 1970
Fourth in Heisman Trophy race- 1969
#18 Ole Miss jersey retired
Ole Miss Team of the Century
All-Sec-1969, 1970
Walter Camp Award-1969
NFL Most Valuable Player- 1978
NFL Offensive Player of the Year- 1969
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame-1989 

Manning as an all around great person. He helped in the community activities and special events: Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Nokia Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Directors.

Personally retired from football, he is still very much in the game as he follows his sons each weekend through the fall.