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When one of the NFL’s greatest players, Jim Brown, passed away earlier this week, amongst the first people to join in the commemoration of the legend was none other than the Indianapolis Colts Tycoon Owner, Jim Irsay. For the 63-year-old Billionaire, Brown sat at the top of his list of the greatest men to ever step onto a football field. However, there is something else on the list which is making fans unhappy. 

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But when Irsay released his personal list of the greatest players of all time, fans weren’t happy with what they saw. Although the inclusion of Brown at the top of the list came as a surprise to absolutely nobody, the rest of the team owner’s list riled up the football world, especially with his glaring exclusion of one of his very own legends. 

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Jim Irsay reassesses his personal list of legends

For more than a decade, Peyton Manning stood as the stalwart and face of the Indianapolis Colts. Bringing a Super Bowl victory to the franchise, while being the prime competitor to Tom Brady, Manning set the standard for greatness in the Colts. So it was especially surprising to see his name left off his own team owner’s list of the greatest ever. But after drawing the rage of Colts and Manning fans from around the world, Irsay finally changed his opinions. 

Read More: “RIP to the Legend”: Barack Obama, Barry Sanders Join NFL Veterans and Hundreds of Players and Fans To Mourn the Tragic Death of a Football Great

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Although Manning only made the honorable mentions on Irsays top 5 on his last go, the HOF QB shot straight up to the second spot on his revised list. Tied with none other than the great Tom Brady, Manning made his way alongside the addition of 49ers legend Jerry Rice. Rounding out his five was the legendary DE David ‘Deacon’ Jones. 

Why did Irsay leave Peyton Manning out?

While most would expect a familial relationship between the Colts’ greatest player, the man who brought them the Lombardi, and their owner, things are not as they seem. Irsay leaving Manning off his list of greatest players goes a long way back, with a disappointing ending to a legacy of greatness. The Manning-Irsay beef originated from the seven first-round exits that the team suffered in the 2000s. 

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Although the team had won a Super Bowl, Irsay grew increasingly frustrated with the team’s continuous early exits in the playoffs. This eventually boiled over when Irsay and the Colts drafted Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft, letting go of Peyton Manning disgracefully, and bringing the Manning era to an end. Given the strained relationship between the two, perhaps we now know the reason why Irsay left the franchise legend off his list. 

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Armaan Gupta

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Armaan Gupta is an NFL Writer at EssentiallySports. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Media and Communication from a prestigious university. Gupta's love for football spans different leagues, from NFL to College Football to XFL. He is particularly drawn to the San Francisco 49ers' playing style, which he finds inspiring. With his humorous and engaging writing style, Gupta enjoys crafting off-court pieces for fans. His recent article, “What a Blessing”: NFL World Reacts to Patrick Mahomes’ Wife Brittany’s Emotional Message” resonated with readers and garnered significant attention. Gupta is also an avid player himself, with a passion for basketball, soccer, and more. When he's not analyzing football stats or studying game footage, Gupta can be found playing the harmonica or shooting hoops on a basketball court. Due to his witty humor and conversational style, Gupta loves to write off-court pieces for fans. His recent article, “What a Blessing”: NFL World Reacts to Patrick Mahomes’ Wife Brittany’s Emotional Message” was among the top pieces. He’s himself a dedicated player on the ground and plays Basketball, Soccer, and more. When he isn’t digging into the depths of nerdy stats and football footage, Gupta will either be at a basketball court or playing the harmonica.

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Hitesh Nigam

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