While many expected Peyton Manning to pursue a coaching career after retiring as a player, one of the greatest minds in NFL history found his true passion in a different field — audiovisual production.
Among the many projects the former quarterback has taken on, one recently brought him together with Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback, also known for his analytical and studious approach to football.
This November marks the premiere of a new season of “Peyton’s Places,” a show created by Manning to explore the past and present aspects of the game.
Joe Burrow to Make Appearance on ‘Peyton’s Places’
“Peyton’s Places” is a series led by Manning in which he revisits pivotal moments in NFL history through conversations with fellow players and coaches. These guests help unpack the cultural significance of each event, often drawing parallels to the modern game.
This year’s edition, set to premiere in November on ESPN+, features three episodes filmed in Cincinnati. The season explores topics like the evolution of the quarterback as a play-caller, the rise of taller wide receivers, and how Paul Brown’s Taxi Squad, originally created by the Bengals founder, became what we now know as the NFL’s practice squad.
It’s not the first collaboration between Burrow and Manning. The Bengals quarterback is also featured in the upcoming season of “Quarterback”, a docuseries that follows the NFL through the lens of select QBs. The 2024 season will spotlight Burrow, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins, and Burrow has expressed how much trust he placed in Manning to help tell that story.
Joe Burrow
Kirk Cousins
Jared GoffQuarterback Season 2 is coming to Netflix this July. pic.twitter.com/O688EDTv2N
— Netflix (@netflix) March 19, 2025
“He’s going to protect me, protect our team, protect our organization,” Burrow said, about the “Quarterback” show. “I have trust in him for saying that and trust that he’s going to do that. I probably wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t involved, but I have a lot of trust and faith in him to not do anything that would hurt me or the team.”
The partnership between Manning and Burrow grew stronger from that point on. Manning revealed that while studying Burrow’s game, one moment in particular inspired him to bring “Peyton’s Places” to Cincinnati — a Divisional Round matchup against the Tennessee Titans, where Burrow couldn’t hear the play call from his head coach and decided to take over, calling his own plays on the spot.
That level of autonomy is what connects Manning and Burrow. Known as one of the most cerebral quarterbacks in NFL history, Manning operated offenses like a coach on the field, mastering huddles, pre-snap reads, and adjusting at the line of scrimmage based on defensive cues and coverage.
In an NFL where quarterbacks are increasingly defined by athleticism, Burrow remains one of the few who still leans on classic pocket-passing traits, yet blends them with modern mobility and improvisation.
He embodies the best of Manning’s cerebral command and today’s quarterback evolution, making any collaboration between the two a must-watch for fans of the game.