For many, Tom Brady has cemented his legacy as the GOAT. And 7 Super Bowl rings are a testament to the same. However, one former Pro Bowler thinks Peyton Manning deserves that title.
Advertisement
The Buccaneers quarterback’s legacy in the NFL is very well established at this point, but the fact that Brady is gearing up for another NFL season at this age is simply remarkable.
His longevity, though, is what has helped his case for the best QB title the most, as he just won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 43 years old. Brady’s 21 NFL seasons — soon-to-be 22 — have also helped him climb atop almost every major passing category.
However, former Pro Bowl Defensive End Marcellus Wiley believes Peyton Manning is the GOAT, and it’s “not even a conversation” for him.
Former Pro Bowler Marcellus Wiley Places Peyton Manning Above Tom Brady
Marcellus Wiley played in the NFL for 10 years and earned a Pro Bowl selection as a defensive end for the San Diego Chargers in 2010, racking up 13 total sacks and five forced fumbles that year. Recently he weighed in on the GOAT debate.
“I always say Tom Brady’s the GOAT because I just don’t want to argue, but if you ask me who’s the best quarterback of all time, it’s Peyton Manning. It’s not even a conversation for me,” Wiley said on the Aug. 9. “I played against both guys, and that’s just my opinion. But to save myself my voice and my argument time, and being in the barbershop all night, I just go with the flow and say, Tom Brady.”
“Peyton Manning has multiple championships; Aaron Rodgers does not, but he’s in the GOAT conversation, and Peyton Manning’s not?” he said. “Peyton Manning has [five] MVPs. Who else has five MVPs in the entire NFL’s history? No one.”
Peyton Manning had one of the most prolific careers in NFL history. His accumulated list of accolades is lengthy, but includes items like 5x MVP, 7x first team All-Pro, and 14x Pro-Bowler.
Of course, in his 18 year NFL career, he won 2 Super Bowls. The first came with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006 and the second came in his final season in the league, with the Denver Broncos.
Wiley continued: “So if you combine those two, a guy who has more MVPs than anyone else, he has multiple championships [with] different franchises. Why isn’t he in the GOAT conversation? I understand if you don’t want to make him the GOAT because you don’t want to be in the barbershop all night. But for me, Peyton Manning, best I ever played against on the field.”
