Sports Nicknames - The Sheriff

Why is Peyton Manning called "The Sheriff", and where did the nickname originate from?

Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to have ever lived.



The #1 draft pick in the 1998 NFL Draft played for two different teams over the course of his career - the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Manning's mantelpiece is filled with awards and trophies, including two Super Bowls, 5 Most Valuable Player awards and seven First-Team All-Pro awards.

Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Manning has parlayed his success on the field into a popular Monday Night Football alternative live broadcast show called "Manningcast", which he does with his brother, Eli.

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Manning's nickname was "The Sheriff" during his time in the NFL.

The nickname was coined by Jon Gruden during a Monday Night Football game in 2009 between the Colts and Miami Dolphins.

Gruden called Manning "The Sheriff" because Manning was "laying down the law" against the Dolphins and methodically leading his team down the field.

"The Sheriff", as Gruden called him, was in charge and his teammates were loyally following his commands.

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The nickname was solidified a few years later, when a rookie quarterback named Cam Newton called Manning "The Sheriff" while reviewing tape with Jon Gruden.

The nickname stuck and Peyton Manning was been called "The Sheriff" ever since.


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