Peyton Manning returns to Tennessee as a college professor

Monday, the university announced Manning’s College of Communication and Information designation as a Professor of Practice for fall 2023. The Pro Football Hall of Fame player will join select classes during the academic year as a distinguished expert and work alongside college faculty to provide educational experiences for CCI students in Tennessee .

“There is no other ambassador for our college and university like Peyton Manning, and we are proud to welcome him to the college faculty,” said Joseph Mazer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “Peyton is a true volunteer, and I look forward to our students gaining invaluable knowledge from him as we continue to prepare the next generation of communications and information leaders.”

Manning graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Tennessee with a degree in Speech Communications and led the Volunteers to an SEC championship in 1997. He remained a strong supporter of his alma mater while becoming a fixture in the world of media and entertainment.

This football season will be his third on ESPN2’s “ManningCast,” as he and his younger brother Eli team up to do replacement broadcasts during “Monday Night Football” games. Manning will co-host the Country Music Association Awards for the second year in a row in November alongside Luke Bryan. Last year witnessed the first time that the Capital Market Authority chose a professional athlete to host its annual ceremony. Manning also hosted NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in 2007 and the ESPY Awards in 2017. He launched his entertainment company Omaha Productions in 2020, guest-voicing (with the Cooper brothers and Ellie) on an episode of The Simpsons and has appeared in many television commercials.

“My time as a student at the College of Communications and Information was a foundational experience during which I learned key skills and messaging techniques that I still use almost daily,” said Manning. “I look forward to working with the college’s talented faculty, and directly with students in an effort to ensure they are well prepared for their future careers.”

Manning, 47, will be involved with the faculty at CCI and teach a variety of subjects that align with the college’s curriculum, including sports reporting, video production, performance, leadership, communication, and public speaking. Manning plans to teach fall classes in person, which means he’ll be back on campus often during this football season.

Manning is well versed in the sports media industry. His documentary “Peyton’s Places” debuted on ESPN+ in 2020, featuring episodes in which he revisits key moments in NFL history through conversations with former players, coaches, and other key figures about football and its cultural impact.

One of the most beloved figures in Tennessee sports history, Manning played all four years at the Vols and turned down an opportunity to be the first pick in the NFL draft back for his senior season. He was the first pick the following year in 1998 and won Super Bowl championships with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos during a record NFL career.

Manning lives in Denver, but frequently attends Tennessee sporting events and is closely associated with the university and its community. He spoke at the memorial service for Pat Summitt in 2016 and gave a moving tribute to the Hall of Fame Lady Vols basketball coach. In 2018, he donated $1 million to establish the John Haas Student Experiential Learning Scholarship to honor the former director of the School of Communication Studies. Haas served as one of Manning’s professors and academic advisor at Tennessee.

The year after Tennessee left to join the NFL, Manning awarded the Peyton Manning Scholarship, a competitive four-year opportunity to some of UT’s brightest first-year freshmen. The scholarship has benefited more than 50 recipients since its inception, and he returns to campus each year to learn about the latest scholars. Manning also provides internships through Omaha Productions for UT’s journalism and electronic media students, giving them hands-on experience.

Manning was 39-6 as the starting quarterback at Tennessee and holds the school record for career passing yards (11,201) and touchdown passes (89). As a professional, Manning has been named the NFL Most Valuable Player five times. He owns the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes (55 in 2013) and has passed 4,000 yards 14 times in his 18-year career, which is tied with Tom Brady.