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From Gridiron to Growth: How Football Lessons Shape Peyton Manning's Second Act

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Barbara Bickham
May 21, 2025

Hi Impactful Listener!

Peyton Manning achieved legendary status during his illustrious career in the National Football League, marked by Super Bowl victories and numerous accolades. However, as one speaker in the sources notes, in "quote, retirement," Peyton Manning seems even busier than he was during his playing days. His post-football ventures, including his long-standing partnership with Nationwide and the booming success of Omaha Productions, demonstrate a different kind of success, one built on a completely different skill set. But, as the sources reveal, the transition wasn't a leap into the unknown; it's deeply rooted in powerful lessons learned on the football field. These insights into leadership, preparation, planning, and resilience are not just applicable to sports but serve as a powerful framework for success in business and life's "second chapter" from the Milken Global Conference.

One of the most significant takeaways from football, according to Peyton Manning, is the concept of leadership. Playing quarterback naturally places you in a leadership role. However, he quickly learned that leadership is not automatic; it must be earned. Simply having a title, whether quarterback, president, manager, or CEO, does not make you a leader. For him, earning leadership meant earning the respect of his teammates. He recounts a humorous anecdote from his college days where, as a freshman entering the huddle, he tried to deliver a "big rah rah speech". A large offensive lineman, weighing about 330 pounds, quickly cut him off, telling him to "shut the blank up and follow the blank and play". This moment reinforced the fundamental truth that respect must be earned. To be influential, you must earn the trust of those you are trying to lead. This lesson about earning respect and trust is directly applicable to business, particularly in financial services, where companies like Nationwide must earn the trust and respect of their clients. It's about building that trust with clients, coaching them, and encouraging them to ask questions.

Beyond leadership, preparation is a core principle that has transferred seamlessly from football to Peyton's current endeavors. He cites a quote from former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll, which he received in high school: "Pressure is something that you feel alone, you don't know what you're doing". This quote resonated throughout his sports career and continues to apply to business and life. It underscores the importance of doing your homework, preparing thoroughly, and asking questions. Peyton admits he wasn't a quarterback who could throw the ball the farthest or outrun anyone. His edge came from preparation, studying opponents "out of sight in a week". This commitment to preparation remains with him today.

This focus on preparation ties into the crucial lesson of planning, especially when it comes to anticipating potential challenges and making adjustments. Peyton uses the example of calling audibles in football. An audible occurs when the quarterback changes the play at the line of scrimmage based on how the defense is lined up. While it might look spontaneous, like the quarterback is "winging it on the fly," every audible called had been practiced and discussed beforehand. They had a plan: "if the defense ever does this, this is what we're going to audible to". This plan might have been for that specific week's game, the next week's game, or even later in the season, but it was a predetermined response. "Winging it," he stresses, is not good on the football field, nor is it good in the financial industry. His message is clear: don't wait until something comes about and then figure it out. Have a plan for potential situations. He connects this directly to longevity, noting that people are living longer, perhaps to 100 years old, which requires a different type of planning. The advice is to plan now, figure it out now, and avoid "winging it," which can lead to negative outcomes, like interceptions in football or poor results in the financial world. While not every audible or plan works out perfectly, and sometimes you might second-guess a decision, having a plan and being able to adjust is key.

Another vital lesson is the necessity of continuous coaching and learning. Even after achieving significant success, Peyton believes everyone, including himself and financial coaches, needs to keep being coached. He played football until he was 40 but still feels coached today. He sought out honest and candid individuals – old coworkers, teachers, coaches – for guidance. He highlights his practice of visiting his college coach, David Cutcliffe, every NFL offseason, even in his 17th year. He would work on the most basic fundamentals, like taking a snap or calling a play in the huddle. While it might seem unnecessary for a seasoned veteran, the point is that the little things matter. Performance often declines when you stop focusing on these fundamental aspects. This principle applies equally to financial professionals coaching their clients.

Success in any field isn't linear; there will be adversity and mistakes. Peyton acknowledges that everyone will face these challenges, and the response is crucial. He reflects on devastating losses in playoff games that his teams probably should have won before finally reaching and playing in four Super Bowls. These losses were moments that could have broken an organization or led to personnel changes.
Instead, the teams stuck together, committed to improving, and eventually overcame the hurdles. He sees facing adversity as a great test, one that teaches perseverance. While you don't want to go through it, sometimes it's necessary to learn. Reflecting on whether you learn more from losing than winning, he mentions his father's experience with tough seasons with the Saints. His dad's main takeaway from his career wasn't the win-loss record but the relationships he made, indicating no regrets despite the tough times. Peyton personally identifies more with the sentiment expressed by Jimmy Connors: "I hate to lose more than I like to win," and disliking seeing happiness on opponents' faces after being beaten. This perspective underscores the deep drive to avoid failure while implicitly valuing the lessons it provides.

These lessons from the gridiron form the foundation of Peyton Manning's successful "second chapter." His partnership with Nationwide is a prominent example.He has represented them for 11 years, starting while he was still in the NFL. He was honored to be chosen and values their shared principles, including giving back to communities. He has witnessed firsthand Nationwide's evolution from primarily an insurance company to also a financial services provider. He feels this mirrors his own transition from being solely "Peyton Manning the football player" to also being involved in new ventures. Nationwide's role as an NFL sponsor allowed him to wear his actual Broncos jersey in commercials, which was a plus for him as a player. He enjoys doing the commercials and the Nationwide jingle has developed a life of its own, with people often repeating it to him. He is particularly proud of Nationwide's sponsorship of the Nationwide NFL Man of the Year award, which recognizes players for their community service. He considers it the most important award in the NFL because it highlights positive actions that might otherwise go unnoticed, encouraging more people to do good things. His experience at Nationwide events has shown him the company's focus on protecting and planning for their customers' and clients' futures, which he appreciates.

Another significant part of his post-football life is Omaha Productions. The company's name comes directly from the word "Omaha," which he used as an indicator word after calling an audible in football to signal that the ball was about to be snapped. The reason fans could hear this and other on-field communication was because the NFL turned up microphones on the sidelines about 12 years ago, which helped bring viewers closer to the game but also allowed opposing defenses to pick up on offensive signals. The "Omaha" audible gained notoriety, leading to a deal where he received a key to the city of Omaha and steaks. While he didn't know much about production companies while playing, being "so wired in" to his job as quarterback, retirement prompted him to explore new paths. Following the advice to figure out what he didn't want to do (like coaching or traditional broadcasting), the pandemic presented an opportunity for remote broadcasting. This led to the idea for the Manningcast with his brother Eli, initially thought to be a joke by Eli, who was surprised by the concept of getting paid to watch football from home. Omaha Productions produces the Manningcast. What Peyton likes about the company is that it not only produces shows he's in but also those he's not, allowing him to be an "offensive coordinator on the sidelines," helping others tell their stories. The goal is to produce positive, unifying content that brings people together. Examples include 'Peyton's Places' (history of football) and 'Sue's Places' with Sue Bird (history of college basketball). The Manningcast, while perhaps not drawing the same raw numbers as the main broadcast, attracts a different type of viewer, which the NFL values for broadening its audience. It also allows Peyton to work with his brother and, notably, do the show from his neighbor's garage in Denver, freeing up time to coach his kids' youth sports on weekends.

In conclusion, Peyton Manning's transition from celebrated athlete to successful entrepreneur and media personality is a powerful testament to the enduring value of lessons learned through dedicated practice and competition. The principles of earned leadership, meticulous preparation, proactive planning, continuous learning, and resiliently facing adversity that guided him on the football field are now driving his success in his "second chapter". His work with Nationwide underscores the importance of trust and planning for the future., while Omaha Productions highlights his ability to apply strategic thinking and build a team in a new industry, all while creating content that aligns with positive values. These insights demonstrate that the discipline and strategic thinking honed in sports can be incredibly valuable assets in navigating the complexities of business and life beyond the game.

Thanks to Million Podcasts for featuring the podcast in the following categories:
35 Best Angel Investors Podcasts, 30 Best Female Investing Podcasts, 90 Best Alternative Investment Podcasts, 60 Best Female Finance Podcasts, 40 Best Impact Investing Podcast and 100 Best Venture Capital Podcasts list.

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