The University of Tennessee – Knoxville announced Monday that NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and UT graduate Peyton Manning will return to campus as a communications professor.
Manning will join the faculty of the College of Communication and Information beginning in the fall of this year.
“There is no other ambassador for our college and university like Peyton Manning, and we are proud to welcome him to the college’s faculty,” said Joseph Mazer, dean of the College of Communication and Information, according to a release from the school. “Peyton is a true Volunteer, and I look forward to our students gaining invaluable knowledge from him as we continue to prepare the next generation of communication and information leaders.”
Manning is best known for leading both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos to Super Bowl victories in 2007 and 2016, respectfully.
“Manning will join select classes during the academic year as a featured expert, bringing significant industry experience to the classroom and working alongside the college’s nationally recognized faculty to provide transformative learning experiences for CCI students,” the release said.
Manning graduated from UT with a degree in communications in 1997, before enjoying an 18-season NFL career.
“My time as a student in the College of Communication and Information was a foundational experience during which I learned critical skills and messaging techniques that I continue to put to use almost daily,” Manning said. “I look forward to working with the college’s talented faculty and directly with students in an effort to ensure they are well prepared for their future careers.”
Manning has remained active in the UT communications community since his graduation.
“As a UT alumnus, Manning has made several impactful contributions to the university and college. Manning’s philanthropic support of the college hit a full-circle moment in 2018, when he donated $1 million to establish the John Haas Student Experiential Learning Endowment to honor the former director of the School of Communication Studies,” said the release. “Haas served as one of Manning’s professors and his academic adviser at UT. The endowment supports student trips, study abroad, internships and other opportunities for communication studies students to grow and develop outside the classroom.”
He also established the Peyton Manning scholarship in 1998, which the school says has been awarded to more than 50 students since its introduction.
Since retiring from the NFL, Manning has worked as a producer and commentator for ESPN+, ESPN 2 and NBC.
Notably, Manning was a spokesperson and featured in commercials for Papa John’s Pizza, and at one point owned 31 franchises of the restaurant chain.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Peyton Manning” by University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Nothing like hiring a self-centered ex-jock.