NFL

Tracing Peyton’s journey: From QB’s son to superstar

Peyton Manning will be the central figure in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night, as he attempts to capture the second championship ring of his storied career. The 37-year-old superstar will be playing in his brother Eli’s home stadium, opposing the NFL’s top defense and trying to become the first starting quarterback to win a championship with two franchises.

Here’s a closer look at the life of the Super Bowl’s biggest star:

March 24, 1976: Peyton Williams Manning is born to Archie and Olivia Manning in New Orleans. He is the second of three Manning brothers (older brother Cooper and younger brother Eli).

1994: Enters the University of Tennessee and plays four seasons at quarterback, establishing 33 school records. Manning ends his career with the most wins in SEC history (39) and is the runner-up to Michigan’s Charles Woodson for the Heisman Trophy in 1997.

Peyton Manning on draft day 1998 with dad Archie and mom Olivia.Jason Szenes

April 18, 1998: The Colts select him first overall in the NFL Draft, choosing him over another quarterback, Washington State’s Ryan Leaf. At No. 2, the Chargers grab Leaf, who plays just 25 games in the NFL and is out of the league by 2001.

2003: Earns his first NFL MVP award, throwing for 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns. After three playoff losses to open his career, he secures his first postseason victory, a 41-10 rout over the Chiefs in which Manning completes 22-of-26 passes for 377 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. An AFC title game loss to the Patriots, featuring four Manning interceptions, ends the Colts’ season.

2004: Fires 49 touchdown passes (breaking the NFL record) and posts a 121.1 quarterback rating (also a record). However, the Colts lose to the Patriots in the postseason again, this time in the divisional round.

Feb. 4, 2007: Captures his first championship with a 29-17 victory over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Manning is awarded the game’s MVP for throwing for 247 yards and one touchdown.

Peyton hoists the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XLI in 2007.Reuters

Feb. 3, 2008: Leads the cheers as Eli wins his first Super Bowl one year later, a 17-14 upset of the Patriots.

2009: Earns his record fourth MVP award, throwing for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Colts advance to their second Super Bowl of Manning’s tenure (after beating the Jets in the AFC Championship) but lose to the Saints, 31-17. Trailing 24-17 with 3:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, Manning has a critical interception returned for a 74-yard pick-six by New Orleans’ Tracy Porter.

2011: Misses the entire season with a neck injury (resulting in four surgeries) as the Colts go 2-14 and earn the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Eli wins his second Super Bowl, this one in Peyton’s home stadium in Indianapolis.

March 7, 2012: The Colts release Manning following his season of inactivity. Indianapolis uses its top pick to secure Manning’s replacement, Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck.

March 20, 2012: After also considering the Dolphins, Titans and others, Manning signs a five-year $96 million deal with the Broncos. He goes on to win Comeback Player of the Year after starting all 16 games and throwing for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Manning spent the 2011 season sidelined by multiple neck surgeries.Getty Images

Jan. 12, 2013: Manning throws an interception to Ravens cornerback Corey Graham in overtime, leading to Baltimore’s game-winning field goal and a 38-35 loss for the top-seeded Broncos in the divisional playoff round.

2013: Establishes an NFL records with 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 yards passing, throwing for four or more touchdowns in a game nine times over the course of the season.

Jan. 19, 2014: Leads the Broncos to their first Super Bowl in 15 years by outplaying Tom Brady and beating the Patriots in the AFC Championship, 26-16. Manning completes 32-of-43 passes for 400 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.