ABOVE: Peyton Manning makes NFL history – if only his teammates would let him have the ball!
In many ways, it was a scene right out of an old western movie: one of the most prolific gunslingers of all time, finally overcome by a man known simply as “The Sherriff”.
In the second quarter of Sunday night’s Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers game, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning found wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for an 8-yard touchdown strike, putting him at 509 career touchdown passes thrown.
That number eclipses the previous record of 508 career touchdown passes held by longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
It was the highlight of a stellar night for one of the NFL’s most popular players, who didn’t just break the record but managed to pad it, throwing four touchdowns to shred the 49ers by a score of 42-17.
As usual, Manning deferred credit for the win – and the record – to his teammates.
“It was a special night,” Manning said after the game. “I think more special because of the way our team played, and because we got the win with such a team effort.”
The historic moment was followed by a much more lighthearted one, as Manning tried to secure the history-making football from his teammates.
Knowing this, his fellow Broncos began playing a game of “keep away” with the historic ball, with the future Hall-of-Famer playing monkey-in-the-middle as his teammates tossed the football back and forth.
And according to Thomas, the idea to play “keep away” was actually Manning’s.
“He actually planned that himself,” Thomas joked after the game. “So we got everybody in on Friday, and we practiced it, and it happened tonight.”
Since entering the league as the first overall draft pick in 2008, Manning has been one of the best players in all of football.
He led the Indianapolis Colts to a win in Super Bowl XLI in 2007, and has been named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player a record five times.
After undergoing spinal fusion surgery in 2011, many thought his career may finally be coming to an end. Instead, Manning signed with the Denver Broncos, won another MVP award, and set the all-time record for touchdown passes thrown in a single season, with 55 touchdowns thrown in 2013.
“I’m very humbled and very honoured,” Manning said about breaking the all-time TD record. “I certainly think about how grateful I am for all the teammates and coaches that I’ve played with, and played for… All the people who have helped me along the way.”
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