For a guy who isn’t thinking about retirement, Peyton Manning seems to be talking about it a lot.
First, there was his cryptic “last rodeo” line he mentioned to Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick. Now, there is a report that Manning has told his close friends that this would be his final game.
But if it is, where would this rank with the great goodbyes? Provided, of course, Manning can lead the Denver Broncos to an upset victory over the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl.
Start with Manning’s boss, John Elway. Elway went out perfectly, winning two straight Super Bowls. It’s hard to script a better final exit. At 38, Elway became the oldest player ever to win a Super Bowl MVP. He threw for 336 yards and one score and ran for another.
Then there was Michael Strahan, who helped the New York Giants win one of the Super Bowl’s biggest upsets. The Giants beat the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, 17-14. Strahan had a sack in the game.
In third place would be Jerome Bettis, who helped guide the Steelers to an upset victory over Seattle in his hometown of Detroit. Bettis didn’t have a great day statistically, rushing 14 times for 43 yards, but it was a sweet-enough homecoming.
Ray Lewis also finished his career in a Super Bowl, although he wasn’t the MVP this time. Lewis finished with four tackles and three assists in the victory.
Runner-ups? Players who also bowed out after a Super Bowl: Jack Reynolds, Ted Hendricks, Mel Renfro, Jimmy Orr, Max McGee, Russ Grimm, and Randy Cross.
Legends in other sports to retire after a title include Joe DiMaggio, Bill Russell, Dominik Hasek, David Robinson, and Pete Sampras.
