The 2012 divorce between Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts was deemed one of the classiest ones in recent sports memory. And even then, there was a public feud between Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay that made it impossible for the two to co-exist anymore. But old wounds were seemingly healed when the Colts unveiled a statue, inducted Manning into the Ring of Honor and retired his jersey number.
Now, Irsay appears to have reopened that wound.
After news of the passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown made its way to social media, Irsay took to Twitter and rifled off his list of the five greatest National Football League players of all time. One would you have to assume that he would include Manning, right?
Well, you’d be wrong. Irsay left off Manning, but included Tom Brady and John Elway on the aforementioned list.
On my list of Top 5 Greatest NFL Players of All Time,in our 103 year History… I have Top 5 as 1)Jim Brown 2)Tom Brady 3)John Elway 4)Deacon Jones 5)Reggie White.🏈
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 19, 2023
“On my list of Top 5 Greatest NFL Players of All Time, in our 103 year History, I have Top 5 as 1)Jim Brown 2)Tom Brady 3)John Elway 4)Deacon Jones 5)Reggie White,” Irsay wrote in a tweet, via Pro Football Talk.
After 11 minutes of being berated in his Twitter mentions, Irsay made sure to grandfather Manning into his list.
“No doubt Peyton,Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice in Top 10 it’s just that Elway didn’t have great offensive players around him til the end,when he won 2 in a row and his feet we’re remarkable,from baseball talents,” Irsay said.
No doubt…Peyton,Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice in Top 10… it’s just that Elway didn’t have great offensive players around him til the end,when he won 2 in a row and his feet we’re remarkable,from baseball talents…🏈
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) May 19, 2023
Elway refused to play for the Colts. That wasn’t the case with Manning, who during his time with Indianapolis was a four-time MVP, Super Bowl XLI winner, and tuned the Colts into a perennial AFC title contender. Maybe there are some hard feelings there, or Irsay could revere Brady and Elway in a different light than he does Manning. Both of those are entirely possible.
At the end of the day, it is a bit strange for Irsay to alienate the greatest player in the history of the franchise like that. But that’s the ever-eccentric Colts owner for you.
[Jim Irsay on Twitter, Pro Football Talk]
