Peyton Manning To Announce Retirement After 18-Year Career

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will announce his retirement from the NFL at a news conference in Denver Monday, bringing an end to a career that will surely land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, ESPN and NFL.com reported Sunday.

Manning, who turns 40 later this month, will be going out on top after helping the Broncos to a Super Bowl upset victory last month over the Carolina Panthers, the media outlets reported, citing sources close to the quarterback.

The decision comes as the Broncos faced a Wednesday deadline in which Manning would be guaranteed $19 million from Denver for the 2016 National Football League season if he remained on the team's roster.

One of the most prolific passers ever in the NFL, Manning revolutionized the quarterback position during an 18-year career that included two Super Bowl titles, five most valuable player awards and a slew of passing records.

Manning came across as a laid back southern boy, but on the gridiron he was a clinical, ruthless competitor with an off-the-charts football IQ who changed plays at the line of scrimmage to outsmart opposing defenses with his dead-on accuracy.

He played his final four seasons in Denver, but his prime came during the 14 years he spent in Indianapolis where he led the Colts to two Super Bowls berths, winning the big game in the 2006 campaign.

In addition to his career yards, passing touchdowns records and his record five MVP awards, Manning's Super Bowl win gave him an NFL record 200 career wins, including playoffs.

He also became the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.

A foot injury hampered Manning for much of the 2015 regular season, and he showed a distinct loss of throwing strength.

But after his return from a six-game absence, he avoided mistakes and helped support the fierce Broncos defense during an improbable late run to the NFL title as the oldest quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.