At one point for the Tennessee Titans, quarterback Peyton Manning was highly considering signing with them back in 2012. One can only wonder if he could have been their savior.
Let’s rewind back to 2012. Quarterback Peyton Manning wasn’t going to be kept by the Indianapolis Colts, a team he help put on the map for well over a decade. He was dealing with major neck issues that required surgery and well, the Colts wanted to spend their overall No. 1 draft pick on quarterback Andrew Luck.
It was a sad moment in Indianapolis as their face of the franchise at the time, looked like his career was about to be over. As Manning contemplated what to do next, he decided to hit free agency in hopes of finding the right team that would enable him to continue his legacy.
Being arguably one of the hottest free agents to ever hit the market, Manning narrowed it down to three teams. The Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans all presented solid cases as to why he would be exactly what they need to become instant contenders.
Of course ultimately, Manning decided to join the Broncos and cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, but one has to wonder, was Manning seriously considering joining the Titans?
According to Dave Ammenheuser for The Tennessean, Manning was about to make it happen:
"“I was pretty close,” Manning said of choosing the Titans."
Manning said that at a special event speaking about the Tennessee Vols and it makes many wonder, could Manning have been the possible savior for the Titans?
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There is no question that the Titans could have thrived under everything Manning brings to the table.
They haven’t had a steady franchise quarterback in quite some time and well, things would have been drastically different if they were able to acquire the future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
It’s hard to predict the immediate impact Manning would have brought to the Titans but his tenure with the Broncos were incredible. He made two Super Bowl appearances, won one of them and took the Broncos to the NFL Playoffs every season he was under center four consecutive times.
Of course the Broncos made sure to not only surround Manning with a top defense but also a solid supporting cast to ensure he had everything he needed to succeed. The Titans would have more than likely done the same thing since he would have been their centerpiece on offense.
Manning would have undoubtedly been one huge piece of the puzzle for the Titans as he would have at least given them three to four years of high quality quarterback play that they desperately needed.
Of course in that scenario, Manning would have been a short-term answer but at the end of the day, would have at the time, inherited a 9-7 team from 2011 and turned them into immediate contenders in the AFC South. Plus who wouldn’t have loved to have seen Manning face his old team in the Colts twice a season to add more to their division rivalry?
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Overall, Manning could have very well been their savior and who knows, could have finally brought a Super Bowl championship to Tennessee. They haven’t had a Super Bowl championship in the modern era and if perhaps Manning was acquired, it could have been exactly what they needed to bring one home.