Arch Manning family tree: How Texas QB is related to Peyton, Eli Manning
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Arch Manning's first full season as Texas' starting quarterback last season came with a ton of hype and, arguably, impossible-to-achieve expectations.
The resulting up-and-down season ended on a momentum-building note heading into 2026, as he led the Longhorns to a 7-1 record, including a bowl win, in their final eight games. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in that span.
Now, heading into Year 2, the Longhorn quarterback once again has high expectations surrounding his name: He is a contender not only for the Heisman Trophy, but also the top overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. If anything, it shouldn't be anything new for the 6-foot-4 quarterback, who has dealt with such expectations for much of his playing career — given the fact he's a member of football's most well-known families.
"Going through those rough times, (I) learned a lot about myself. I’ve become a better man because of it and hopefully a better player," Manning said at SEC Media Days in July. "Don’t want to repeat that game."
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian called his quarterback a "very dangerous player" at SEC Media Days because of the adversity he weathered last season with the Longhorns, who just missed the postseason.
Here's what you need to know about Arch Manning's family tree as he gets ready to start his second full-season starting at Texas:
Arch Manning family tree
Who is Arch Manning's grandfather?
Arch Manning is the grandson and namesake of former Mississippi and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning .
Archie Manning was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss by the Saints, with whom he spent the first 11 years of his NFL career. He would later play for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings to finish out his 13-year NFL career.
Archie Manning, who threw for nearly 24,000 career passing yards and 125 touchdowns, has been in the news recently with his grandson.
Who is Arch Manning's dad?
Arch Manning's father is Cooper Manning, the eldest son of Archie Manning and older brother to Peyton and Eli Manning (Arch Manning's uncles).
Cooper Manning — like his father — committed to Ole Miss to play college football, albeit at wide receiver instead of quarterback. However, his career with the Rebels never took off: he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis before he arrived at Ole Miss.
Who are Arch Manning's uncles?
Arch Manning is the nephew of legendary college football and NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.
Peyton Manning was the first to break from Manning family tradition, choosing to commit to Tennessee over Ole Miss. In his time on Rocky Top, Peyton Manning quickly became one of the all-time greatest players in Tennessee history, throwing for 11,201 passing yards and 89 touchdowns. He posted a record of 39-6 as a starter.
Eli Manning played college football at Ole Miss from 1999 to 2003, a career that saw him become one of the all-time great Rebels quarterbacks. He set the program's all-time passing records with 10,119 yards and 81 career touchdowns, marks which stood until Jaxson Dart surpassed them in 2024.
Both Peyton and Eli Manning exhausted their college eligibility before being selected No. 1 overall in the 1998 and 2004 NFL drafts, respectively.
Eli Manning spent all 16 seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants, who traded for him on draft night in 1998 after he was selected by the San Diego Chargers. He went on to win two Super Bowls with the Giants, both of which came against New England's Tom Brady, long considered Peyton Manning's top rival and greatest contemporary in the NFL.
Peyton Manning spent his 18-year Hall of Fame career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos. He won a Super Bowl title with each: in the 2006 season with the Colts and again in 2015, with the Broncos. The former Vols quarterback, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot inductee in 2021, ranks third all-time in NFL career passing yards (71,940) and threw for 539 career touchdowns.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arch Manning family tree: How Texas QB is related to Peyton, Eli Manning
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos