Bruce Arians held a steadfast rule of never leaving the team facility before a player did. Yet, a young and immensely talented student redefined this craft. The NFL’s most detail-obsessed quarterback, Peyton Manning‘s late nights crunching film and innovative plays surpassed even Arians’ standards.

2x Super Bowl champ Manning set a novel benchmark for readiness within the Indianapolis Colts and across the league. Manning’s commitment and skill made him an NFL legend, continuing his legacy with the Denver Broncos. But amid the journey, who could have foreseen that Manning’s transition to the Broncos was the brainchild of a strategic move by Shannon Sharpe’s Super Bowl champion teammate?

Peyton Manning was about to go to the Titans?

When Peyton Manning departed the Colts in 2012, it sent shockwaves through the NFL. His pivot to the Denver Broncos proved a resounding success. Yet, what if he had opted for a different route? According to Broncos reporter Troy Renck’s tweet, Peyton’s brother, “Archie Manning said that Titans were prepared to offer Peyton a lifetime contract before he signed with #Broncos.”

The tweet further added, “Said Elway was big part in decision for Peyton to come to Denver. A lot of factors involved. But this became the best fit.” This recruitment proved to be a masterstroke for the Broncos, yielding two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy during the Peyton Manning era.

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Read more: “I Easily Could’ve Gone”: Despite Leaving Colts, Peyton Manning Reveals a Dramatically Compelling Reason on Why He Ignored Big Offers and Stayed Back in AFC

Curiously, just as Shannon Sharpe‘s Super Bowl teammate John Elway orchestrated Manning’s Broncos entry in Super Bowl 50, there is an intriguing aspect of Peyton’s NFL journey.

Manning’s draft altered the NFL’s fate

Many years ago, a crucial decision confronted the Colts: Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. With hindsight, it appears an absurd dilemma. However, back in 1998, football circles were genuinely divided. Half of the NFL envisioned Leaf with a superior career, while the other half believed Manning would ascend as a star. Bill Polian, the Colts’ general manager at the time, firmly fell into the latter category.

One pivotal moment that solidified Polian’s conviction was a predraft meeting where Manning declared, “Draft me, and we’ll win Super Bowls; don’t, and I’ll come back and kick your a**.” Polian was already smitten with Manning, and that declaration sealed the deal. Manning then outshined in his career with the Colts. After missing the 2011 season due to neck surgery, Manning was released by the Colts and eventually joined the Broncos.

With a comfortable rapport established by John Elway, Manning signed a 5-year, $96,000,000 contract with the team. The rest, as they say, is history.

Watch this story: Patrick Mahomes names best single-season QB NFL has ever seen and it’s not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning