Texas quarterback Arch Manning, nephew of former NFL legends Eli and Peyton Manning, has chosen not to appear in EA Sports’ upcoming NCAA 25 video game, according to ESPN.
Manning claimed he “wants to focus on football” and that he’s waiting until he’s “the guy” at Texas to opt into the game, per ESPN.
Manning, a sophomore, spent the last season as the backup to 2024 Heisman favorite Quinn Ewers, only appearing in one blowout game where he threw five passes, completing two of them for 30 yards.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 24: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Tim Warner/Getty Images
Manning has also avoided the temptation to court name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, only signing on to one endorsement. The deal he signed was with the Panini America trading card company. As part of the deal, Manning signed off on a one-of-one trading card of himself that the company auctioned for charity, fetching over $100,000 for a Central Texas non-profit, per ESPN.
The decision to stay out of the spotlight, work hard in silence and let success be the noise, is so classic Manning family. Both Eli and Peyton began to showcase their funny sides and personalities as they became household NFL names. (RELATED: NFL Team Cuts Pair Of Superstar Safeties … One Of Them Deserved It, The Other Not So Much)
Arch, ESPN’s number two prospect in the 2022 class, is following in his uncles’ footsteps, starting a career based on substance and not flash. I love this philosophy. In a world where it seems like athletes are far more concerned with building a brand than they are with winning games, the Mannings take a different approach. Just win football games. The off-field success will follow.