| The Manning family is one of the most respected | | | | homecoming queen her senior year. The couple |
| and accomplished families in the history of the | | | | married and had three sons: Cooper (born in |
| game of football. Father Archie as well as sons Eli | | | | 1974), Peyton (born in 1976), and Eli (born in |
| and Peyton were each star quarterbacks in high | | | | 1981). Peyton and Eli are both well-known due to |
| school, college, and eventually the NFL. The | | | | their NFL success as each of the two sons have |
| seldom discussed story is that in addition to | | | | won a Super Bowl and both have even been |
| mother Olivia Manning there is another member of | | | | named Super Bowl MVPs (in consecutive years - |
| the family that can not put the accomplishment | | | | Peyton in 2007 and Eli in 2008). |
| of famous National Football League (NFL) | | | | Cooper Manning is the often forgotten son but he |
| quarterback on their resume and that person is | | | | is very comfortable with this fact and enjoys the |
| the third son Cooper, brother to both Eli and | | | | anonymity that comes with being the |
| Peyton. | | | | non-celebrity brother. Cooper at 6'4" is a similar |
| Cooper Manning will likely spend the rest of his life | | | | size to the other men in his immediate family as |
| being referred to either behind his back or to his | | | | his father Archie is 6'3", brother Peyton is 6'5", |
| face as the third Manning brother. Unlike his | | | | and brother Eli is 6'4". In his youth Cooper was a |
| accomplished brothers and father he does not | | | | standout football player in his own right who had |
| have muli-million dollar contracts paying him as | | | | aspirations of playing at the highest level. The |
| much as hundreds of thousands of dollars a week. | | | | All-State wide receiver was a highly touted college |
| Nor does he have the fame and admiration that | | | | prospect who intended on playing for Ole Miss in |
| comes from excelling at a coveted position | | | | the Southeast Conference (SEC) before the |
| (quarterback) at the highest level. | | | | diagnosis of a spinal condition known as spinal |
| Archie Manning, the head of the family, first | | | | stenosis put an end to his football career. |
| became a household name while playing | | | | Cooper enjoys the success of his brothers |
| quarterback for the University of Mississippi | | | | without jealousy as any good sibling should. |
| (commonly referred to as Ole Miss) in 1969 and | | | | Cooper, who lives in his home town of New |
| 1970. The Heisman Trophy (given annually to the | | | | Orleans, has the occupation of being a partner in |
| most outstanding college football player) candidate | | | | an energy investment firm known as Howard |
| went on to attain wealth and fame in the NFL | | | | Weil. Following the February 2008 Super Bowl win |
| where as a pro quarterback he was selected to | | | | by his youngest brother Eli on the heels of the |
| two pro bowls and was once named the NFC | | | | 2007 Super Bowl win by Peyton, Cooper was |
| Offensive Player of the Year in 1978. | | | | asked by New York Magazine if it feels weird to |
| Archie met his wife Olivia while the two were | | | | be the only brother that has not won a Super |
| students at Ole Miss. Archie was in a fraternity | | | | Bowl. His light hearted response was, "well, there's |
| (Sigma Nu) and Olivia was in a sorority (Delta | | | | a lot of pressure on me next year. I'm not quite |
| Gamma). Archie was the star quarterback of the | | | | sure what I'm going to do. |
| college football team and Olivia was the | | | | |
