Archie Manning built his legacy as an NFL quarterback in New Orleans, but his greatest legacy might be the football dynasty he and his wife Olivia raised at home. Archie Manning’s kids — Cooper, Peyton, and Eli — have each carved out their own path, from broadcasting and business to two Super Bowl MVP trophies. And now, a third generation is carrying the family name into college football headlines.
Here’s a complete, up-to-date look at Archie Manning’s children and where they are today.
Who Are Archie Manning’s Kids?
Archie Manning and his wife, Olivia Williams Manning, have three sons together: Cooper Manning, Peyton Manning, and Eli Manning. All three grew up in New Orleans and attended Isidore Newman School, where football was practically a family tradition.
- Cooper Manning (born 1974) — the oldest son
- Peyton Manning (born 1976) — the middle son
- Eli Manning (born 1981) — the youngest son
Cooper Manning: The One Who Got Away From the NFL
Cooper was actually the first Manning brother tipped for football stardom. He was a standout wide receiver at Isidore Newman School and a hot recruiting prospect for Ole Miss. But before his senior year of high school, Cooper was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a spinal cord condition that ended his playing career after corrective surgery.
Cooper went on to graduate from Ole Miss and built a successful career in business. He currently serves as a Senior Managing Director at AJ Capital Partners, a hotel and real estate investment firm, and has become a well-known media personality, hosting sports shows including “The Manning Hour” alongside his brothers on ESPN’s ManningCast during Monday Night Football broadcasts.
Cooper married Ellen Heidingsfelder in 1999, and the couple has three children: daughter May, and sons Arch and Heid.
Peyton Manning: The Sheriff
Peyton Manning is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He starred at the University of Tennessee, where his No. 16 jersey is retired, before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Over an 18-year career split between the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, Peyton won two Super Bowls (Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis and Super Bowl 50 with Denver), five NFL MVP awards, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He and his father remain the only father-son duo enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Peyton is married to Ashley Manning, and the couple has fraternal twins, a son named Marshall and a daughter named Mosley.
Eli Manning: Two-Time Super Bowl MVP
Eli Manning followed in his father’s footsteps at Ole Miss before being selected first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 16-year career with the New York Giants, leading the team to two improbable Super Bowl victories over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots — winning Super Bowl MVP honors both times.
Eli was named the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his community service and retired in 2019 with his No. 10 jersey retired by both Ole Miss and the Giants.
Eli is married to Abby Manning, and the couple has four children together.
The Third Generation: Arch Manning Carries the Torch
The Manning football legacy continues into a third generation through Cooper’s son, Arch Manning. Once the No. 1-ranked high school quarterback recruit in the country, Arch chose to play college football at the University of Texas rather than following his uncles to Tennessee or Ole Miss.
Arch took over as the Longhorns’ full-time starting quarterback in the 2025 season and delivered a strong finish, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards with 24 touchdowns while leading Texas to a 9-3 record. Despite being widely projected as a potential first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Arch — like his grandfather, father, and uncles before him — chose to stay in college for another season. His father, Cooper, confirmed in December 2025 that Arch will return to Texas for the 2026 season, aiming to chase a national championship before entering the NFL draft, where analysts still expect him to be a first-round pick.
How Many Grandchildren Does Archie Manning Have?
Archie and Olivia Manning are proud grandparents of nine grandchildren in total — four boys and five girls — spread across their three sons’ families. Beyond Arch, the extended Manning grandchildren include Cooper’s other children, Peyton’s twins, and Eli’s four kids, all growing up with the family name that has become synonymous with American football excellence.
A Family Built on Football and Legacy
What makes the Manning family remarkable isn’t just the Super Bowl rings or the Hall of Fame busts — it’s the continuity. Archie and his sons have run the Manning Passing Academy, a summer camp for high school quarterbacks, for nearly three decades. Archie and Peyton co-authored the book Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy, and the family was named one of America’s most inspiring families by Town & Country Magazine.
From Archie’s playing days with the New Orleans Saints to Peyton and Eli’s championship runs, and now to Arch’s rise at Texas, the Manning family continues to be one of the most influential dynasties in American sports history.
Got a favorite Manning family moment? Drop a comment below and stay tuned — we’ll keep this page updated as Arch Manning’s 2026 season and the rest of the Manning family news develops!