Arch Manning Gets Eye-Opening NFL Verdict as $37M Veteran’s Retirement Sparks Surprising Rumors

Arch Manning will finally have his chance in Texas this year. After patiently waiting in the wings for two seasons behind Quinn Ewers, the redshirt sophomore will enter 2025 as a starting QB. The Longhorns fans are excited to see how the blue-chip prospect will fare under the bright lights, and there is good reason for it. Last season, he appeared in nine games with two starts, leading the Longhorns to victories against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State while Ewers was injured. Manning went 61-of-90 passing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions in 2024. His head coach is also backing him to the hilt, despite Manning throwing fewer than 100 collegiate passes to date.

In March, during the Off the Edge podcast, Steve Sarkisian lauded Manning’s perseverance when it would have been easy to leave for another program. “It’s about [him] wanting to be a really good player and wanting to be the quarterback at Texas to bring another national championship back here…We have a quarterback in Arch,” Sarkisian added. “We have a great leader who does things that right way … We’ll see what happens. Expectations are high in Austin,” he said.

While Manning hasn’t had many chances to show what he can do, he has already been touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate. The hype is real. In fact, Longhorns fans have begun dreaming about a first national title since 2005. But what if they achieve that? Or what if Manning has an incredible season under Sarkisian? Well, in case any of this happens, expect NFL teams to circle around Manning come the 2026 NFL Draft, and one particular team might be the early favorites to land him.

In New Orleans, Kellen Moore has stepped in as the new head coach of the Saints squad. One of the biggest roadblocks he faces is the quarterback situation. Courtesy? Derek Carr, who was believed to miss out on the entire 2025 season because of his shoulder injury. However, he announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons, leaving the Saints in a pickle. Right now, they have second-round pick Tyler Shough, Jake Haener, and Spencer Rattler competing for the QB1 role, but none of them appear to be long-term options, and this is where Manning could come in.

On April 18, Saints insider Nader Mirfiq tweeted a teaser with the caption, “2026 NFL Mock Draft. .” That’s when the New Orleans narrative became stronger. “By the 2026 NFL Draft, the Saints could be looking for a young quarterback to replace Derek Carr.” USA Today’s Nate Davis then shared, “Now, just imagine if they secure the No. 1 pick in 2026, Arch Manning has the type of season in Austin everyone seems to expect and has the option to go home to his native New Orleans and revive the team his grandfather, Archie Manning, played so bravely but futilely for in the 1970s.”

Louisiana has been the home of the Manning family for more than 50 years. Archie Manning relocated from Mississippi to Louisiana in 1971 when he became the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. During his career, he earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and was later honored with induction into both the Saints Ring of Honor and the team’s Hall of Fame. As a result, Peyton, Eli, and Cooper Manning all grew up in New Orleans and attended Isidore Newman School, located only three miles from the Superdome.

Arch Manning also played at Isidore Newman and broke all sorts of records before being recruited by the Texas Longhorns. Still, his roots remain firmly in New Orleans, and if the franchise came calling, it would be hard to turn them down. It’s been over four decades since a Manning last suited up in the Saints’ iconic black and gold. A return now would be the stuff of legend. The story writes itself.

However, given how Manning stayed loyal to Texas and took his time to learn and develop, his jumping ship to the NFL at the first available chance isn’t a done deal. In fact, a look at Manning family history suggests Longhorns might get to see Arch in their colors for more than just one season.

Arch Manning could yet prolong his Longhorns stay

On the May 13 episode of Adam Breneman’s podcast, the host dived into the Arch Manning situation in Texas. The host shared, “Some even question why he didn’t transfer after sitting for 2 years and where that competitiveness is?” And who better person to comment on that than Coach Sark himself?

The analyst shared, “Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has addressed it directly on a recent podcast. Sark pushed back against those claims, saying that Manning ‘worked harder than anybody in the country and that he’s earned every rep.’ He pointed out that Arch stayed when he could have left.”

Staying loyal to one college throughout, Manning scored extra points on his report card for being mature. He has also proved himself to be a leader and showed patience by not leaving Sarkisian’s hands when things got tough. To sum it up, Breneman highlighted, “He didn’t chase NIL cheques before he proved anything, he took the long route and is now paying off off the field.”

Given that Arch has had very little experience on the field, returning to Texas in 2026 remains a strong possibility. Patience has always been a hallmark of the Manning legacy. Peyton and Eli each spent four full years honing their craft at college before emerging as No. 1 overall draft picks. Even their father, Archie, took the long road. He started 30 games across three seasons on his way to a College Football Hall of Fame career.

So, there is a family precedent to add to the uncertainty around Arch Manning’s decision come January next year. For now, the college football onlookers, especially those in Texas are waiting to see how well Arch carries the family legacy in Austin.

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