Archie Manning criticized the sports media for crowning his grandson before he ever took a snap at Texas, according to KXAN News.
The elder Manning spoke during the Manning Passing Academy about how the media handled Arch Manning’s developmental season.
“I was kind of disappointed in a lot of people, the whole thing,” Archie said while speaking with Noah Gross of KXAN News. “They kind of crowned Arch before he ever played. I just didn’t think that was fair. Yeah, it was a little tough start. He played (for) a great team.”
Arch Manning arrived in Austin as one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects ever evaluated. The hype reached unprecedented levels for a backup quarterback.
Media outlets immediately placed him in Heisman Trophy discussions before he’d thrown a single collegiate pass. Sports analysts treated the five-star recruit like an established NFL first-round pick from his commitment day.
“But I’ve never been more proud of anybody in my life. The way Arch battled through what he had to go through last year, and the way he played the last eight or nine games of the season.”
The quarterback’s performance validated his grandfather’s confidence.
Arch Manning threw for 3,163 yards with 37 total touchdowns against just 7 interceptions last season. He enters his junior year as the established starter and a legitimate Heisman Trophy frontrunner.
The Longhorns face heightened expectations entering 2026 with Manning leading the offense in his second full season as starter.
