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“Did I Have 10 Bud Lights With George Kittle Last Night? Yes, I Did”: Peyton Manning Shares His Plan to Save Pro Bowl Coaching Job

Samnur Reza
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American former football player Peyton Manning before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High.

Oct 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; American former football player Peyton Manning before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Since the NFL switched to skill-based challenges in the Pro Bowl in 2023, Eli and Peyton Manning were named coaches for the NFC and AFC, respectively. However, Peyton’s younger brother has gotten the better of him the past two seasons, and this year again, the NFC is leading, 14-7, putting Peyton’s job in jeopardy. Eli has even teased Peyton about his chances of a “three-peat,” so it only made sense for Peyton to devise a terrific plan, and stop his brother from having the last laugh.

The former Broncos quarterback revealed on The Pat McAfee Show that he is actually desperate to beat his brother this year in the Pro Bowl.

“Would I like to beat Eli in this Pro Bowl? Very much so. He’s 2-10, he’s talking about a three-peat. That’s annoying, it’s offensive. And, I’m afraid if we don’t win, they’re gonna fire me and I won’t get to come back.”

As a result, Peyton has ditched his old strategies that never worked and embraced some unconventional, fun ones ahead of Sunday’s main event. He told McAfee that after the AFC took a beating on Thursday, he joined 49ers TE George Kittle for a few Bud Lights—one too many, apparently. It’s unclear why he teamed up with a rival NFC Pro Bowler, but Peyton is confident it could be just what his conference needs to gain the edge.

“Did I have 10 Bud Lights with George Kittle last night? Yes, I did (McAfee and crew laughs). But I’m still studying film and putting together a solid game plan. I think the last two years of going to bed early, drawing up plays, and watching film? That’s out the window. Bud Lights with Kittle? That’s my winning edge this year.”

 

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You know Sunday’s event will be fun now that Peyton is fully geared up and fired up. The Pro Bowl games are being held in Orlando (for the sixth time), with both conferences packed with talent. So far, Lions QB Jared Goff has been the one to catch the most attention, outshining AFC and Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Another NFC player, Justin Jefferson, helped Eli gain a point, although AFC’s Ja’Marr Chase also put up a strong performance.

Jets DT Quinnen Williams became the first AFC player to put up a point for his conference, but the NFC squad quickly responded in the ‘Newlywed Game’ knock-off, relay races, and the second round of Dodgeball. The AFC team won the first round but is currently trailing by 7 points at 14-7.

That said, the tournament is far from over. The best of the best will face off in a 7-on-7 flag football game for the main event, with the total points scored added to their current tally. All the AFC has to do is score 8 or more points than their opponent this Sunday and they will take home the victory. And Peyton wouldn’t have it any other way.

The main event will take place at Camping World Stadium, but if you can’t attend, an NFL+ subscription will give you access. Just tune in at 3 p.m. ET.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1000 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in The Last of Us Part II. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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