NFL Draft with Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf going 1-2 hits 25th anniversary: A look back, what it means for 2023

On this day 25 years ago the Colts made one of the best decisions in NFL draft history, selecting Peyton Manning first overall over Ryan Leaf, who went second to the Chargers.

Peyton Manning’s career speaks for itself. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and passing yards (before being passed by Drew Brees and Tom Brady), won an NFL-record five MVP awards, and was the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams. 

Leaf had a 4-17 record, 14 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions in his four-year career.

In hindsight, Manning over Leaf was the most clear-cut decision ever. But, at the time, it wasn’t so obvious. In fact, Colts scouts were 50/50 on who to take first overall at the start of the offseason. Manning had a stellar four-year career at Tennessee, but there were concerns about his arm strength and athleticism. Leaf was a late riser at Washington State and had all the upside and physical traits.

Former Colts general manager Bill Polian detailed the process that eventually led Indianapolis to draft Manning in his book ‘The Game Plan.’ Here’s how everything developed.

Timeline of Colts’ decision to draft Manning over Leaf

1. In early January/late February, Colts scouts voted on who to take with the first pick. It was a 50/50 split between Manning and Leaf.
2. Leaf missed his interview with the Colts at the NFL Combine. According to Polian, 16 years later Leaf’s agent Leigh Steinberg wrote in his book ‘The Agent’ that he suggested Leaf intentionally skip the meeting to discourage the Colts from drafting him so he could play with San Diego.
3. Polian, head coach Jim Mora, assistants Tom Moore and Bruce Arians watched the tape of every throw for Manning and Leaf in college. Polian later wrote that the tape showed Leaf didn’t drive the ball downfield quite like Manning.
4. The Colts held a private workout for Manning in late March/early April where he erased any concerns about his arm strength in what Polian called a “slam dunk workout.”
5. The Colts held a private workout for Leaf the following day. Polian remembers telling Tom Moore “his arm is not as strong as Peyton’s.”
6. After Leaf’s private workout, Jim Mora told Leaf that May 10 would be the first day he could work out with the Colts if they drafted him. Polian claims Leaf responded that he couldn’t make it until May 15 because he had a trip to Las Vegas planned with friends. This didn’t sit well…