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Archie Manning Takes Back His Preferred NFL Destination For Grandson

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Dec 11, 2024 6:19 PM ET

75-year-old Archie Manning may be having second thoughts about wanting to see his grandson play for the Dallas Cowboys.

The patriarch of football's first family recently made headlines when he expressed his desire to see Arch Manning wear a star on his helmet in the pros. But after further inspection, the former Saints QB would like to have that one back.

"That is something that kinda got outta hand," Manning admitted. "I have a sports bar in New Orleans and I was just being nice to a patron. I told him I hope Arch will play three years of college football and he said, 'And then maybe to the Cowboys?' I said, 'That'd be fine with me.' I didn't know he was going to put that on TikTok."

Archie Manning says his comments about wanting Arch to play for the Cowboys got "out of hand" pic.twitter.com/qiuu5CMbOF
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 11, 2024

Archie was caught on camera last week being asked about his hopes for Arch's career, and as he sat back and thought about it, he said: "I hope he'll play three years in Texas. ... It's funny, nobody's ever asked me that. Right off the bat, if somebody asked me, I'd say Cowboys."

Unfortunately for the No. 2 pick in the '71 Draft, he didn't expect Cowboys Nation to be as ravenous as it was/is and the clip blew up online.

As cool a sight as it might be to see Arch Manning eventually be QB1 for "America's Team," it doesn't sound like grandpa wants to get involved (like he did with his sons).

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 02: Archie Manning visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl LI Radio Row at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 2, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Sirius XM)

For now fans in Texas will have to settle for Manning leading the Longhorns in 2025. Although he's been making plays in the limited action he's seen behind Quinn Ewers this season.

UT will host 12th-seeded Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff. A win would set up a meeting with Big 12 champion Arizona State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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