Peyton Manning condemns QBs for giving teammates sponsored gifts for publicity: ‘We don’t have to put it on TV’

Two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning criticized NFL quarterbacks who are rewarding their teammates with sponsored gifts in order to garner publicity.

While covering the NFL wild-card game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings, Manning’s brother Eli knew he had something to get off his chest when he asked his sibling, “What do you want to vent about?”

Peyton took no time answering that “linemen gifts” are getting out of hand, referring to quarterbacks who get their offensive linemen presents at the end of the season to show their appreciation.

Manning clarified that there are “a couple rules.”

After explaining that he and his brother both bought gifts for their teammates during their tenure, he insisted that quarterbacks “have to spend [their] own money.”

“We can’t be using sponsors and credit and putting it all on TV.”

Manning continued, “We have to actually spend money. So I’m not accusing anybody of not spending money, but let’s be sure we keep spending our money.”

“I want to hear some examples,” Eli retorted.

Manning replied, “I’m just saying we have to spend our money. All right? And the other thing, it’s not a Christmas gift. You have to block well to get a gift. A couple of years, like, we didn’t make the playoffs. I didn’t get my guys anything. Like, you didn’t block that well.”

Despite declining to specify any names, a clear example in this scenario that perfectly fits Manning’s parameters would be San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

After a 6-11 season in which the 49ers finished last in their division with no playoff berth, Purdy surprised his offensive line with 10 Toyotas (Sequoias and Tundras) for Christmas.

The video, published by the team, was an obvious Toyota ad that was likely made possible by a national endorsement deal Purdy signed with the car brand in 2024. Interestingly enough, Eli Manning also signed as a national partner, CBS Sports reported, which may be why Peyton wasn’t so eager to be specific.

‘No playoffs, no gift.’

“So don’t feel obligated, quarterbacks; if your team doesn’t make the playoffs, you don’t have to get them a gift. That’s like a participation medal. … Block well, I’ll give you a gift. Right? No wolf, no part,” Manning said, hilariously referring the 1980s movie “Teen Wolf.”

“Okay? No playoffs, no gift,” he reiterated.

Manning further insisted that quarterbacks need to be spending their own money, and “we don’t have to put it on TV. We can just do it in the linemen room, make it a personal thing,” he stressed.

After Eli said he hadn’t heard about sponsored gifts before, Peyton finally gave in and said that Tom Brady used to gift his teammates Ugg boots.

“I don’t know if that was part of his one of his sponsorships, but he spent a lot of money on those. But, anyway, spend your own money. That’s my message to the young QBs out there.”

In the same broadcast, the Manning brothers reportedly spoke about Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow buying his linemen katanas for Christmas, although the teammates allegedly asked to be gifted guns instead.

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