Peyton Manning on the 2025 Broncos: 'There's a Reason to Be Excited'

Peyton Manning's opinion on the 2025 Denver Broncos could be viewed as evidence of how the worm has finally turned for this team. Hot on the heels of head coach Sean Payton's bold declaration that his team is capable of winning a Super Bowl, 'The Sheriff' has spoken. 

"Look, I can tell from watching practice one day and sort of keeping up, belief and confidence are high in the building," Manning told Troy Renck of The Denver Post. "And that's what you want, right? Where we are not hoping we are a good team, but knowing we are a good team. That you believe it. Now you have to go do it. But the belief is there." 

As the Broncos move toward their first joint practice and preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, they seem to be riding on the crest of a wave. Much of the optimism comes from Payton seemingly hitting the quarterback jackpot with second-year Bo Nix under center. 

Coach Payton has never hidden his unflinching belief that Nix is capable of becoming a next-level quarterback, but the most surprising factor has been just how quickly his rise has gained traction and momentum. In Manning's case, he saw it all during his illustrious 18-year Hall-of-Fame career, so he knows that even with a team that feels ready to make a run, everything still has to fall into place. 

"That's the thing, there is a reason to be excited," Manning told Renck. "When you look at this team with Bo (Nix), the pieces they have added, and with all of us expecting Sean to be around for a long time, they have every reason to believe it can result in a lot of wins. But they have to stay healthy." 

Continuity is King