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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Archie Manning Named National Football Foundation Chairman
12/12/2007 | Football
”The National Football Foundation stands in the forefront of promoting our great game,” said Manning. “Having served on the NFF Board for 14 years, I am humbled that my fellow members have asked me to take on this prestigious role. I am truly honored to carry on the organization's rich traditions and critical mission of building the character of the young men who play our great sport.”
An All-America quarterback at Ole Miss, a 1989 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, and a Pro Bowl player with the New Orleans Saints, Manning has created a reputation as leading humanitarian, leveraging his fame to assist a wide range of causes, including his long-standing efforts to battle Cystic Fibrosis. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports.
”No person serves as a better example of what our organization represents than Archie Manning, and there is nobody better qualified to be our chairman than him,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “We are fortunate that Archie has accepted this role, and I look forward to working closely with him to build on the legacy created by Ron. As Archie assumes his new position, he inherits a post utilized by Ron to strengthen our organization's impact from border to border and coast to coast.”
During Johnson's tenure as chairman, the NFF positioned itself for strong growth in the coming years. Significant developments included relocating the organization's corporate headquarters from Morristown, New Jersey to Dallas, Texas; creating a robust corporate partnership program; implementing several new initiatives to strengthen the NFF Chapter network; adding several new key partners to the Play It Smart Program, including the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the U.S. Department of Justice; adding several prominent national leaders to the board of directors, including Jim Delany, Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, Michael Moe, Kevin Plank, Mike Slive, Roger Williams and Deborah Yow; and launching the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which significantly expands the number of scholar-athletes the NFF recognizes each year.
"Having served on the board of The National Football Foundation since 1993, Archie's leadership has played a vital role in helping to expand our organization's impact over the past decade," said outgoing Chairman Johnson. "Nobody has more passion for helping young football players develop on and off the field, and he is a true leader who will add significantly to the Foundation's legacy of promoting the good in the game."
Johnson will remain a member of the board, assuming a new role as chairman of the executive committee. In addition to Johnson, past NFF chairmen include Chester J. LaRoche, Vincent DePaul Draddy, William Pearce and Jon F. Hanson (Emeritus). Manning follows Johnson as the second member of the College Football Hall of Fame to serve as chairman.
Founded in 1947 under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and renowned journalist Grantland Rice, the NFF serves as a leading voice in the promotion of amateur football and its ability to develop the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, competitive zeal and the drive for academic achievement in
With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people.
The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in
Archie Manning Bio
When people think of Archie Manning, they think football. But Archie's appeal transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor. He was recently selected Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Council. He currently serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies, including Reebok, Gatorade, AstroTurf, Direct TV and CBS Sports. For 25 years he hosted four Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis benefit golf tournaments in
Archie was born May 19, 1949, in Drew, Miss. He attended the University of Mississippi where he was named an All-American Quarterback and was the first Ole Miss player to have his number (18) retired. The late Chucky Mullins is the only other Rebel with his number (38) retired. He was voted the State of
In 1971, Archie was the second player chosen in the NFL draft - the number one draft choice of the New Orleans Saints. He set Saints passing records, played in two Pro Bowls and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1978. He was the first player in Saints history to be inducted into the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame. He concluded his 15-year career in 1985. He was also drafted four times by major league baseball.
While in pro football, he received the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award, the Bart Starr Humanitarian Award, the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the U.S. Jaycees named him one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans. In 2005 Archie received the Legends award from the Davey O'Brien Foundation and the Aspire award, a tribute to life's coaches, from the Cal Ripken Foundation.
His community activities include Louisiana Special Olympics, the New Orleans Area Boy Scout Council, the Salvation Army, United Way Speakers Bureau, Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, New Orleans Sports Foundation, and National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Archie and his wife Olivia reside in
Archie and Peyton wrote a book entitled "Manning: A Father, His Sons and A Football Legacy". He and his boys also operate the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks and receivers.
Peyton and Eli both claimed National Scholar-Athlete Awards from the National Football Foundation, in 1997 and 2003 respectively, for their combined academic excellence, football performance, and community leadership in college. Peyton also claimed the Draddy Trophy as the absolute best in the nation that year for his combined achievements.
In honor of the Mannings' college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award to go to the nation's best college quarterback. Recently the National Father's Day Council named Archie "Father of the Year," and the United States Sports Academy honored him with the 2006 Distinguished Service Award. The Indiana Sports Corporation presented Archie & Olivia with the 2006 National Pathfinder Award, which recognizes individuals for their contributions and dedication to youth.
