Texas QB Arch Manning opens up on his relationship with grandpa Archie while at Manning Passing Academy

For Arch Manning, football has always been more than a game—it’s been a legacy. Born into a family synonymous with quarterbacking greatness, the Texas Longhorns signal-caller has spent his life surrounded by the sport’s most iconic figures. But for all the headlines, hype, and history tied to his last name, there’s one relationship that cuts deeper than the rest: the bond between Arch and his grandfather, Archie Manning.

That relationship took center stage at this year’s Manning Passing Academy, held at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. While hundreds of high school quarterbacks and college counselors came to refine mechanics, build camaraderie, and absorb the Manning family’s wisdom, it was a quieter moment between grandfather and grandson that defined the weekend.

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” Arch said, standing just off the field as a summer sun set behind the goalpost. “He’s more than my grandfather—he’s my mentor, my compass. The way he’s lived his life, the way he carried himself as a player and a person… that’s the standard I try to meet.”

Archie Manning, the patriarch of the first family of quarterbacks, is a legend in his own right. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, College Football Hall of Famer, and beloved former Ole Miss Rebel, Archie’s playing career stretched from the early 1970s into the mid-1980s, mostly with the New Orleans Saints. But it’s his post-playing career—marked by humility, leadership, and an unwavering support of his sons Peyton and Eli—that has elevated him to the role of mentor not just within his family, but across the football world.

And now, it’s Arch who’s stepping into the limelight—carrying the Manning torch into a new era with the Texas Longhorns.

“Watching him grow into this role has been a joy,” Archie said with a smile. “He’s got all the tools. But more than that, he’s got the work ethic, the patience, and the heart. I see a lot of our family’s DNA in him—but he’s also his own man.”

Founded in 1996 by Archie and his sons, the Manning Passing Academy (MPA) has grown into one of the most respected quarterback camps in the nation. Each summer, top college quarterbacks serve as counselors for over 1,000 high schoolers, helping develop not just passing mechanics, but leadership, confidence, and football IQ.

This year’s college roster included names like Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Carson Beck (Georgia), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), and of course, Arch Manning (Texas).

“Having Arch back this year is special,” said camp director David Morris. “He’s not just a counselor—he’s part of the family that built this. The campers look up to him, but you can tell how much it means to him to give back.”

And it shows.

Arch was among the first on the field each morning, setting up drills, tossing warm-up balls to middle schoolers, and making jokes with nervous campers. When a seventh-grade QB stumbled on his dropback footwork, Arch knelt beside him and said, “Hey, it’s all good. I fell on my face at this camp when I was your age.

Despite the enormity of his last name—and the microscope of being a top quarterback at Texas—Arch doesn’t exude entitlement. Instead, he channels a grounded humility that many attribute directly to his grandfather’s influence.

“Archie’s always been present,” Arch said. “He doesn’t push. He doesn’t pressure. He just listens, shares when it matters, and lets me find my own way.”

Arch recalls childhood memories of watching Ole Miss highlight tapes in his grandpa’s den, tossing a football on Thanksgiving morning, or sitting next to him during college game broadcasts—absorbing the nuances of pocket movement and coverages, not as lectures, but as casual conversations.

“He taught me the game without ever sitting me down to teach me,” Arch said. “He just let me feel it. That’s how I learned.”

Arch says there was a pivotal moment during his high school career when things felt overwhelming. The pressure of being a “Manning,” the constant media attention, the recruiting circus—it all became too much.

“I remember breaking down in the middle of the season junior year,” Arch said. “I called him late one night, and I just let it all out. The expectations, the fear of failing… everything.”

Archie’s response? Pure simplicity.

“He said, ‘You don’t have to prove anything to anybody but yourself. You’re not Peyton. You’re not Eli. You’re Arch. Just go play ball and have fun.’”

That conversation, Arch said, shifted everything. He stopped playing out of fear of falling short and started playing with joy again. It led to one of the best stretches of his prep career—and eventually, his commitment to Texas.

Since arriving in Austin, Arch has become the face of the Longhorns’ future. After redshirting behind Quinn Ewers, he took over the starting job in 2024 and led Texas to an 11-2 record, a New Year’s Six bowl appearance, and a renewed sense of swagger on the Forty Acres.

Now entering 2025 as a Heisman contender, a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, and a centerpiece of NIL branding power, Arch is managing it all with a calm, steady presence—much like his grandfather once did.

“It’s the poise,” said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. “He never gets too high or too low. He’ll make a big throw, jog back to the sideline, and the first thing he does is dap up the O-line. That’s Archie’s influence, no question.”

At MPA, Archie floated between fields quietly, clipboard in hand, always observing but never hovering. He chatted with parents, shook hands with coaches, and even gave campers little notes on throwing rhythm and footwork.

But when it came time to watch Arch run the advanced drills, Archie stood back—behind the scaffolding, away from the cameras.

“He’s got it,” Archie said. “He doesn’t need me to tell him that. I just want him to know I’m proud of him—not just as a player, but as a young man.”

The Manning philosophy has always been built around three pillars: humility, preparation, and love of the game. Arch, by all accounts, embodies them fully.

“He doesn’t want to be famous,” Archie added. “He just wants to be good. And that’s what we’re most proud of.”

As Arch gears up for the 2025 season—his most anticipated yet—his family’s presence remains his grounding force. Eli visits often. Peyton breaks down film. And Archie, of course, remains the quiet anchor, always a phone call away.

But this year’s MPA reinforced something deeper: no matter how big the stage gets, the foundation remains family.

“Walking out here, coaching these kids, doing this with my grandpa—it reminds me why I started,” Arch said. “Before the stadiums and the NIL deals, it was just about me and him throwing in the yard. That’s still what matters.”

And in a college football world that often moves too fast, too loud, and too far from its roots, the image of a grandfather and grandson laughing on the sideline in Thibodaux is a powerful reminder:

Legacy isn’t pressure. It’s love.

There will always be chatter around Arch Manning. He is, after all, the heir to a quarterback kingdom, with uncles who combined for four Super Bowl titles and over 125,000 NFL passing yards.

But at the Manning Passing Academy—in the heat of a Louisiana summer, amid the sound of cleats on turf and balls spiraling through air—Arch reminded everyone that his story is not just about the past.

It’s about the present. It’s about choice.

And it’s about one boy who grew up idolizing his grandfather—not for his football stats, but for his strength, his humility, and the gentle hand that guided him toward greatness.

In Archie Manning’s eyes, Arch doesn’t need to be the next Peyton. Or the next Eli.

He’s the first Arch. And that’s more than enough.