Peyton Manning's Wife Ashley Talked Him Out of Retirement After Colts Release

Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning's life has been under a microscope nearly his entire life. We know the two-time Super Bowl champion and five-time MVP was a first-ballot Hall of Famer after his terrific NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. We know that Peyton has quite the comedic side judging from the hilarious commercials and classic "Saturday Night Live" skits.

Of course, he comes from the National Football League's First Family. Olivia and Archie Manning — who quarterbacked for the New Orleans Saints — produced quite the trio of football talent in Peyton, longtime New York Giants' QB Eli Manning and Cooper Manning, whose son Arch Manning is throwing touchdowns in high school.

How about Peyton Manning's wife, though? Peyton and Ashley Manning have two children together, but how did they meet, what does she do and just exactly who is she?

Peyton Manning's Wife Ashley Manning

 

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Peyton Manning's wife Ashley Thompson Manning was born to parents Marsha Thompson and Bill Thompson, who was a commercial real estate developer in Memphis, Tennessee. She actually first met her future husband in Tennessee.

According to Bleacher Report, the two met when her next-door neighbor introduced them the summer before he enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1994. Ashley headed east to attend the University of Virginia, but the pair stayed together and got married in 2001.

Despite receiving a ring from the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Ashley has kept a relatively low profile and stayed out of the spotlight unlike the wives of other great NFL quarterbacks like former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen.

She has, however, made exceptions. In 2007, she and the NFL player attended a dinner at the White House that honored Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. When Peyton hosted the 2017 ESPYs, she accompanied him on the red carpet. She also was wrapped up in headlines in 2015 when she reportedly had HGH shipped to her.

Ashley also has three siblings: Allison, Will and Leigh.

How Many Children Do They Have?

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Peyton and Ashley Manning have two children together and live in Denver. She gave birth to twins, son Marshall Williams Manning and daughter Mosley Thompson Manning, in March 2011.

The twins apparently take up a great deal of the couple's time. Peyton reportedly had an offer to come out of retirement and play for the Miami Dolphins in 2017 but didn't take it because he would miss his carpool duties.

He also transitioned into his role as an NFL broadcaster while still maintaining his role as a father. In 2018, he and his son were spotted at a Denver Nuggets basketball game. Now, Peyton has said he's traded in his helmet for a life on the sidelines as his kids' flag football coach.

She Talked Him Out of Retiring Too Early

The American football player thought he had little left in the tank after a neck injury and surgery sidelined him for the entire 2011 season. When he considered retiring after just 13 seasons with the Colts, Ashley talked him out of it. The Denver Broncos signed him in 2012.

"Yeah, Ashley and I actually had those conversations," Peyton told Sports Illustrated's Peter King, via Bleacher Report. "More than one. Because, you know, you don't want to embarrass yourself. Because, they're signing you and people are thinking they're getting the player they had always seen before. And so, Ashley was the one that was saying, 'Peyton, you've got to try. You've got to try.'"

He tried all right.

Peyton won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year that season in Colorado and was second in MVP voting. Three years later, he finished his career on the highest of notes. The Broncos defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. The Broncos quarterback then held a retirement press conference that his family joined him at, wrapping a stellar college football and professional football career.

Peyton sort of joined a broadcast booth with ESPN, as he and younger brother Eli Manning host their own broadcast on Monday Night Football while interviewing famous celebrities and athletes.

She's a Businesswoman and Minority NBA Owner

Ashley Manning: Peyton Manning?s Wife Actually Talked Him Out Of Retirement Four Years Ago https://t.co/r8RC3XPIHv pic.twitter.com/pWmLNOngnL

— The Inquisitr (@theinquisitr) March 7, 2016

Back in 2010, Bleacher Report reported Ashley Thompson Manning was a successful real estate developer and owned her own company. Though it's unknown if she still operates her real estate development company, she has spent numerous hours doing charity work.

Ashley and her football quarterback husband established the PeyBack Foundation, which she spends much of her time making successful. The foundation's goal is to help disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Tennessee, Louisiana and Indiana. The St. Vincent Hospital in 2007 renamed its children's hospital to honor Peyton.

She has also done charity work and raised money for breast cancer. Per the Indy Star, her mother had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.

During the thick of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, she and Peyton provided 600 meals to frontline and healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 at a hospital in Hermitage, Tenn.

"As healthcare workers on the front lines, you are all demonstrating great courage and commitment and making great personal sacrifices to care for the sick during this national crisis," she told Knox News.

In 2012, Ashley even joined a group to become a minority owner of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

"I am very excited to make the commitment to join the potential new ownership group of the Memphis Grizzlies," she told the Denver Post. "As a native of Memphis, it was important to me that the Grizzlies remain in Tennessee and continue to have a positive impact on the community."

Ashley Manning is not only a businesswoman but a busy mom. You won't find her on Instagram or social media, but that's probably how she wants it.

This post was originally published on March 30, 2020.

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