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Peyton Manning admits to being a "dinosaur" when it comes to phones.
Manning switched from the flip phone to iPhone after he opted for free agency ahead of the 2012 season. At that point, Manning had spent 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
"I became a free agent and teams were emailing me attachments, information on their teams, playbooks that I needed to look at and a flip phone doesn't really have that ability to download an attachment," Manning told Sporting News. "I finally had to sell out and go out to the iPhone. Had I not become a free agent, I might still have a flip phone today."
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Manning signed with the Denver Broncos, won a second Super Bowl and retired. Now, 13 years after getting that first iPhone – Manning is fittingly the executive producer for the show "The Mega-Brands That Built America" on the HISTORY Channel. The first episode in Season 3 – titled "The World in Your Palm" – chronicled the race between Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs and the origins of that iPhone.
The one-hour shows are fast-paced learning experiences for the viewer – and they share a characteristic the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback displays on television, podcasts and commercials.
"Every topic in the series is relatable," Manning said. "I'm just fascinated, and you're not surprised, but it is just the hard work, innovation and risk that went into making these brands what they are today that literally built America."
History Channel
Why Peyton Manning partnered with HISTORY Channel
Manning enjoyed history class growing up in Louisiana – especially when it focused on New Orleans.
"I always was interested in the history of the NFL because of my dad playing and old players," Manning said. "That sort of carried over to a lot of things. That's what I like about the show is that the viewer can learn something new each episode. I know I do. My kids watch it, but these are products that we are using in our every-day lives. You might as well learn a little bit about how they came to be."
"The Mega-Brands That Built America" is equal parts dramatic recreations and expert interviews with visual aids – and each episode explores the building of those mega brands. In Season 3, "The Retail Reckoning" explored the race among K-Mart, Target and Wal-Mart in the retail industry. "Rise of the Internet Empires" showcased the growth of Amazon and eBay. There is a nostalgic feel to it – and Peyton's brother Eli makes a few guest appearances.
"Eli was on the other day talking about what a 14-year-old can do with the Internet," Peyton Manning said. "I think it's a kind of little mix from the real experts that are talking about the history of it. At Omaha (Productions), we're into celebrating hard work, and that's exactly what this series is about, but we're also into having fun. I think you can do both with this show."
Manning ranks third in NFL history with 71,940 passing yards and 539 TDs. He spent 13 years with the Colts and four years with the Broncos. He has become a multimedia star since retiring from the NFL after the 2015 season. Manning hosts "Peyton's Places" – which is a similar show that pays homage to NFL history. Lacrosse legend Paul Rabil and Eli Manning have similar shows celebrating lacrosse and college football with Omaha Productions. The "ManningCast" has become a Monday Night Football staple. Now, Peyton Manning is enjoying his role as an executive producer on the HISTORY Channel and A&E.
"I don't think anybody knows for sure what they're doing when they're finished playing, and I didn't know and you just try to figure it out with the second chapter," Manning said. "I enjoy doing the Monday Night show with Eli – getting to work with him and getting to stay close to the game, but I really enjoy being a part of these shows that are outside of sports like 'Mega Brands.'
He said this Sunday's episode – "Hardware Warfare" – focuses on the competition between Home Depot and Lowe's. Manning learned that in the 1990s a new Home Depot opened in the United States every 53 hours.
"I'm not extremely handy so I"m not very relevant in this episode Sunday, but I enjoyed being a part of the shows that I'm not physically in the center of," Manning said. "You get to be a coach on the sidelines and watch the rough drafts. That's been a lot of fun in this second chapter."
Manning said his favorite episode in Season 3 will air later in July and deals with the evolution of cameras, including Kodak and Polaroid.
"That was fascinating as well, " Manning said. "I can relate to that one a little more. I find myself taking a lot of pictures in this second chapter with a lot of kids and events. … My mom always kind of kept a scrapbook and photo albums of us as kids, and I'm kind of taking that role as a parent."
"The Mega-Brands That Built America" airs on Sunday nights on the HISTORY Channel.
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