Peyton Manning has drawn parallels between his own early career and that of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who is yearning for his first Super Bowl victory. Manning, the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, faced substantial scrutiny early in his career due to multiple postseason disappointments before finally breaking through to win Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts at the age of 30. Following that triumph, Manning would go on to claim three MVP awards and another Super Bowl title before retiring after Super Bowl 50.
Currently, Allen is experiencing immense pressure as he aims to replicate that success. Known for his remarkable talent, he recently became the fastest player in NFL history to achieve 300 career touchdown passes. However, like Manning’s early challenges, Allen has faced criticism for his inability to capture a Super Bowl ring, often falling short against formidable foes such as Patrick Mahomes.
In a recent discussion reflected in The Athletic, Manning acknowledged the similar circumstances both quarterbacks faced, stating, “Josh is living the same kind of start to the career that I did. It’s kind of the, ‘Yeah, but …’ right? I mean, ‘yeah, all these great things, but … .’ And, look, he owns it. I owned it. You can’t try to talk your way out of it. That’s a fact.”
Allen also holds the record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and has demonstrated his dual-threat capability in recent seasons, throwing for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 579 yards and 14 scores. Despite his playoff record of 7-6, he remains winless against the Kansas City Chiefs, emphasizing the challenges he still faces in his pursuit of a championship.
As he prepares for a crucial playoff run with several competitors like Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow eliminated, Manning remains optimistic about Allen’s potential to triumph. He expressed understanding of the heartache that comes with near misses, stating, “I’d rather have my heart ripped out being closer, right? Because that means we are close and we’re knocking on the door. I think Josh and [Buffalo head coach] Sean [McDermott] have that same mentality just to keep grinding and keep putting themselves in position. And I believe it’ll happen.”
This shared experience promotes a sense of hope and determination for Allen as he seeks to make history for himself and the Bills, reinforcing the idea that success often follows persistence in the face of adversity.