Archie Manning
QB #8 — New Orleans Saints
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About Archie Manning
Archie Manning played quarterback for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982, a stretch during which the franchise was so consistently terrible that fans wore paper bags over their heads and called the team the "Aints." Manning was good. His team was not. He scrambled for his life behind offensive lines that treated pass protection as a theoretical concept. He threw the ball to receivers who sometimes caught it. He absorbed punishment that would have driven most quarterbacks into early retirement or a different career entirely. Through all of it, he remained professional, likable, and committed to a franchise that gave him almost nothing to work with.
The cosmic joke of Archie Manning's career is that he suffered through the worst era in Saints history so his sons could become two of the greatest quarterbacks who ever lived. Peyton and Eli Manning won a combined four Super Bowls. Archie won a combined zero playoff games. He became the patriarch of football's most famous family, the dad in every Manning family commercial, the guy standing on the sideline at his sons' games looking like a proud father who also knows exactly how badly that offensive line just missed a block. His legacy is less about his own career and more about what he endured and what he produced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bad were the Saints during Archie Manning's career?
The Saints did not have a winning season during Archie Manning's entire tenure from 1971 to 1982. They went 1-15 in 1980. Fans wore paper bags over their heads at home games and called the team the 'Aints.' Manning was selected to two Pro Bowls despite playing behind terrible offensive lines and with limited talent around him. He was frequently running for his life, and the fact that he stayed as long as he did is considered either admirable loyalty or questionable judgment, depending on who you ask.
How is Archie Manning connected to the Manning quarterback dynasty?
Archie is the father of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, who combined for four Super Bowl victories and seven Super Bowl appearances. The contrast between Archie's career on historically bad Saints teams and his sons' championship careers is one of the great narrative arcs in NFL history. Archie's third son, Cooper, was a talented wide receiver whose career was ended by a spinal condition before he could play in college. The Manning family's football legacy spans three generations and has produced more nationally televised quarterback content than any family in American sports.
Last updated: April 2026