Emotions ran high three years ago, as the world grappled with the shocking news of NBA icon Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing. While the entire global sporting community mourned the loss, very few felt the pain as deep as NFL legend Peyton Manning. The Denver Broncos quarterback, known for his commanding presence on the gridiron, stepped forward as a beacon of strength, vulnerability, and unwavering friendship.

Peyton Manning stood before a captivated audience and delivered a heartfelt speech that reverberated with the shared grief of an entire community. It wasn’t just the close personal bond that Manning reminisced about. The 2x Super Bowl champion even credited The Black Mamba for playing a pivotal role in the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII championship.

Peyton Manning delivered a heartfelt speech detailing Kobe’s dedication to his hometown of Philly

The 5x NFL MVP took the center stage at the 2020 NFL Honors, days after the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, in a tragic helicopter crash. And Manning’s voice trembled with emotion. He recounted the countless memories and shared experiences that defined his friendship with Kobe Bryant.

“The sports world lost a shining light with the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant,” Peyton Manning said.

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And it wasn’t just basketball that defined the 5x NBA Champion. Peyton Manning recounted how Bryant was also a huge fan of his hometown NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles. In fact, he had a huge role in the franchise’s Lombardi achievements in 2018. “Kobe gave a pep talk to the team before a playoff game the year they won the Super Bowl,” Manning said.

The former Indianapolis Colts superstar also paid his condolences to the nine lives lost in the horrific crash before saying his last goodbye to the Mamba. “I sure do miss my friend, Kobe Bryant,” Manning said.

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However, it wasn’t just sporting excellence that the cross-sporting legends had a shared interest in. Manning even imbibed Bryant’s entrepreneurial skillset in developing a multi-million dollar business venture.

Kobe Bryant was the one who pushed Manning to form his popular production franchise

Soon after retiring, Peyton Manning formed Omaha Production, named after his popular audible. 7 years later, the production company is worth over $400 million. They have collaborated and produced for streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime, alongside multiple commercial brands. However, that wouldn’t have been the case had Manning not met Kobe Bryant.

“Hearing him talk about Granity Studios and what he was building there really told me. ‘Wow, he can do things beyond basketball.’ It dawned on me as we were talking. ‘You can be part of things that you aren’t actually in. You can be the coach on the sidelines,'” Manning told Deadline editor Dade Hayes in a recent interview.

Having met Bryant for the first time in the locker room after a Lakers-Magic matchup in 1999, the two never fell apart and the mutual respect grew stronger with each passing day. Surely, the emotions were bound to surface during Manning’s speech. And so it inevitably did. Rest in peace Mamba!

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