Peyton Manning to announce retirement Monday
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is going out on top.
The Broncos announced Sunday that Manning informed the team he will retire from the NFL after 18 illustrious seasons. A formal announcement will be made Monday, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the NFL history, Manning will walk into the sunset as a Super Bowl champion, much like Broncos general manager John Elway did in 1999.
Manning does so as the only player in history to capture NFL MVP honors five times, with three other players winning the award three times.
The 39-year-old holds numerous other NFL records, including the most career touchdown passes (539), career passing yards (71,940), and wins as a starting quarterback (186, tied with Brett Favre).
During the 2013 season, Manning set single-season records for passing touchdowns with 55 and passing yards with 5,477, steering the Broncos to Super Bowl XLVIII, where Denver was routed 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks.
Manning's crowning achievement occurred during Super Bowl XLI, when he led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears while capturing game MVP honors.
Though Manning's final season was his weakest in terms of on-field performance, with the veteran at one point being benched for Brock Osweiler before taking back his starting job in Week 17, it ended in triumph.
Bolstered by a suffocating Broncos defense, Manning guided the Broncos to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
It was a career capper for the ages from a player who will be remembered as one of the best to ever play the game.