• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Arch Manning Mania: Welcome to Sports Media’s New Obsession

  • ESPN may nationally telecast two more Arch Manning high school games.
  • The 15-year-old quarterback is the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning.
arch manning
Derick Hingle Photography

Meet sports media’s new favorite phenom: high school quarterback Arch Manning.

The 15-year-old nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of Archie Manning is starting to receive the kind of national media coverage reserved for wunderkinds like LaMelo Ball, Bronny James, and LeBron James in his youth.

On Oct. 15, ESPN2 nationally televised the high school sophomore leading his undefeated Isidore Newman School to a 55-22 win over rival KIPP Booker T. Washington in New Orleans.

“Get your first look at the next great Manning QB tonight…The hype is real. This young Manning can straight up play,” tweeted ESPN play-by-play announcer Jay Alter. And the latest outbreak of Manning Mania is just getting started. 

Paragon Marketing Group negotiated the deal between ESPN and Isidore Newman to broadcast the matchup between the two schools, both of which were undefeated before the blowout.  

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Arch Manning could appear twice more on national TV before entering college as the most celebrated quarterback prospect since eventual national champion Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, according to Rashid Ghazi, a partner at the Illinois-based Paragon

“Our plan would be to approach the school about doing a game his junior year —as well as potentially doing a game his senior year,” Ghazi said. 

ESPN declined to comment. Isidore Newman administrators also declined to comment. A spokesman for the Manning Passing Academy said his family is mostly avoiding interviews this year so Arch can enjoy his time in high school and focus on his team.

The sports media love the Mannings because they drive TV ratings and page views. The first family of the NFL likes media attention. 

Sports TV personalities are already swooning over the new heir to the Manning dynasty. Arch is the son of Cooper Manning, the 46-year-old elder brother of Peyton and Eli, whose own football career was cut short by injury.

“There’s a LeBron-like feeling about Arch Manning. LBJ’s high school games got national television exposure in the early 2000’s,” tweeted Chris Mannix, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. “Betting ESPN will give Manning — a sophomore — a lot of run on its networks, too. He looks like a special QB.”

After watching an elusive Arch run over and around would-be tacklers, ESPN’s Marcus Spears said the mobile young QB has something his uncles lacked: scrambling ability. The high schooler is ranked as the No. 1 QB prospect by 247 Sports for the class of 2023.

Paragon has delivered more than 700 high school games to ESPN channels over the past 18 years, including James’ national TV debut in 2002 as a 17-year-old star for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. There are multiple factors driving Arch Manning Mania. 

The so-called “insider media” dedicated to high school sports and player rankings has known about him since 7th grade, Ghazi said. Now the sports world at large is taking notice too. Sports fans love reading and hearing about teen sports prodigies. NFL fans are already day-dreaming about the Manning scion taking the snap for their favorite club in a few years.

“That world is starting to open up to who Arch Manning is,” Ghazi added. “I think they’ll only become more aware of him as he progresses through his high school career and people start to discuss what his college decision is going to be — and where he’s going to play.”

Then add the appeal of the Manning brand. Peyton, Eli and Archie Manning were all first-round picks in the NFL. Between them, Peyton and Eli have won four Super Bowls. Archie, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and his three sons have operated the Manning Passing Academy for 25 years.

“The Mannings are a quarterback family. ESPN did a documentary called ‘The Book of Manning.’ They run a passing academy,” noted Ghazi. “So for the grandson and the nephew to be a top-flight quarterback as well? People are naturally interested in that story because of the athletic talent transferring at a super-high level through three generations.”

ESPN has tried multiple times to hire Peyton Manning as its lead “Monday Night Football” analyst. He has a streaming show on ESPN+ called “Peyton’s Places.” ESPN is playing a leading role in hyping the future Hall of Famer’s nephew.

On the day of ESPN2’s national telecast, the network posted a full writeup of the young phenom on ESPN.com. 

ESPN personalities such as Linda Cohn and Field Yates then amplified the coverage by tweeting about the Manning scion on social media. 

The combination of the Manning moniker, ESPN and social media are creating more hype for Arch than any prospect Ghazi’s seen. 

Sports Networks Increasingly Interested in Showing High School Stars

LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. Photo Credit: ESPN Is high school the next…
December 3, 2019

That includes the hoopla around Michael Jordan’s son Jeffrey Jordan. ESPN televised three high school basketball games involving the son of NBA superstar back in 2007. But Air Jordan’s oldest son never went pro.

“In my opinion, [Arch Manning] will most likely be the No. 1 overall player. But he’ll definitely be the No. 1 overall quarterback in his class. So whether or not Manning was his name, we would have put him on this year because he became a story last year,” Ghazi said. 

“But when you add the Manning legacy, and the name, and the fact that the talent is going from the grandfather down to the grandson, that’s truly unique and amazing.”

Off-the-field, Arch Manning has “massive” marketing potential if he makes it to the NFL, according to Bob Dorfman of Baker Street Advertising, who tracks the endorsement potential of athletes. Peyton has long been one of the most successful athletic endorsers on Madison Avenue. Eli has an extensive endorsement portfolio too.

“The Manning pedigree alone gives him a huge jump start over every other prospect: I can already imagine the ads alongside his uncles Peyton and Eli,” Dorfman said. “If he pans out as a player — and has even half the personality of his famous relatives — millions await.”

Derrick Henry stiff-arms Josh Norman

Rising NFL Star Derrick Henry Lands Old Spice Endorsement Deal

Titans running back Derrick Henry’s stiff-arm of Josh Norman was TV highlight…
October 23, 2020

There are no guarantees for Arch Manning. Other high school phenoms have come and gone without making much of an impact. But Bob Philp, a senior talent market executive, thinks the Manning scion will prove to be a “fascinating case study.”

With college athletes pushing hard to monetize their name, image, and likeness, Arch Manning could be a marketing star sooner than some think, he added.

“He’s only a year or two away, depending on how it all plays out in the college space. (NIL) is going to come sooner rather than later,” Philp said. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 10, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland at her on court interview after winning her match against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland on day 11 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon Set to Deliver Strong Finals Matchup for ESPN

Novak Djokovic is still in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.

F1’s ESPN-Apple Dilemma Could Come Down to Reach vs. Money

MLB and MLS games on Apple TV+ have not drawn huge audiences.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) leads the second lap over Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Apple Vies With ESPN for U.S. Formula One Rights

ESPN’s rights agreement with F1 has been worth about $90 million annually.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
Jul 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Mexico forward Marcel Ruiz (14) heads the ball in front of United States midfielder Brenden Aaronson (11) in the second half during the 2025 Gold Cup Final at NRG Stadium.
July 7, 2025

USMNT Struggles Still Produce Big Gold Cup Ratings for Fox

The U.S. team’s recent issues culminated in a loss to Mexico.
Feb 7, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies center Tarris Reed Jr. (5) reacts after his basket against the St. John's Red Storm in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion.
July 8, 2025

After Decade Apart, ESPN and Big East Rekindle Media Rights Relationship

After a decade-plus apart, the network will stream hundreds of conference events.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 2, 2025

Paramount Settles Trump Suit Ahead of NFL Season, Skydance Merger

The deal likely allows the much larger Skydance merger deal to proceed.
Leo Messi
June 27, 2025

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.