Peyton Manning Drops Surprising Praise for NFL QB—Who’s Caught His Attention?

So, what’s the deal with Jalen Hurts dialing up Peyton Manning like a pop quiz you actually want to ace? It’s not every day you see a young NFL star already racking up Super Bowl shows and then hitting up a Hall of Famer with a laundry list of questions about plays from days gone by. Manning, no stranger to quarterback greatness himself, isn’t just tossing compliments here—he’s downright impressed by Hurts’ blend of raw power and brainy grit. As we edge closer to the 2025 season, it feels like Hurts isn’t just in the spotlight because of his teammates but because he’s a true student of the game. And honestly, if squatting 600 pounds and throwing bombs from the pocket isn’t enough to make you curious about what’s next… well, maybe it’s time to tune in.

Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning seen prior to the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on January 21, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. — (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Jalen Hurts continues drawing praise from NFL legends as he refines his approach heading into the 2025 season.

The former Alabama and Oklahoma standout has worked tirelessly on both physical conditioning and mental preparation throughout the offseason.

Critics often point to the talent surrounding Hurts as the primary driver of his success. Others view him as a natural leader with championship potential.

Recent comments from a two-time Super Bowl champion have added weight to the latter perspective.

Hall of Famer Peyton Manning shared his thoughts on Hurts during a recent appearance on the Pro Football Focus podcast with Cris Collinsworth.

“He’s played so well in both of the Super Bowls, but I like the way he goes about it. He calls me a lot and asks me lots of questions. They actually run a lot of plays that we used to run. [Nick] Sirianni, to Frank Reich, to Tom Moore, sort of that chain. And he calls me with very specific questions about certain plays. So he’s a student of the game. Here’s another example—he squats 600 pounds, he can run over guys, he can throw it a mile. But his appreciation of the cerebral part of the game is what is impressive to me and how he’s taken his game to the next level and I think the sky is the limit for this guy,” Manning said.

Peyton Manning raves about Jalen Hurts on the PFF podcast with Cris Collinsworth:

Manning: "He's played so well in both of the Super Bowls, but I like the way he goes about it. He calls me a lot and asks me lots of questions. They actually run a lot of plays that we used to… pic.twitter.com/MiyYHOynnY

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