Tennessee Volunteers Celebrate Peyton Manning and Morgan Cox for ESPN All Quarter Century NFL Team Recognition Honor

The Tennessee Volunteers community is beaming with pride and admiration as two of its most storied football alumni, Peyton Manning and Morgan Cox, were officially named to the prestigious ESPN All Quarter Century NFL Team. The announcement by ESPN recognizes the best players in the National Football League from the past 25 years—an era defined by transformation, innovation, and unprecedented athletic excellence. For Volunteers fans, this recognition serves as not just a tribute to two exceptional careers, but also as a moment of validation for a proud program whose influence continues to stretch into the uppermost echelons of the sport.

Peyton Manning’s inclusion, while unsurprising to most football enthusiasts, still resonates deeply. A generational quarterback with unmatched football intelligence, Manning’s legacy is cemented as one of the greatest signal callers in NFL history. His mastery of the position, command at the line of scrimmage, and ability to elevate every franchise he touched, made him the blueprint for the modern quarterback. For Tennessee, Manning remains more than just a legend—he is a symbol of class, commitment, and excellence, and someone whose ties to the Vols remain strong decades after his collegiate days ended.

A Tennessee icon since his college days in Knoxville, Manning led the Volunteers from 1994 to 1997, rewriting school and SEC record books and revitalizing a storied program. While he never won a national title during his time at Tennessee, his presence turned the Vols into a perennial national contender and brought a new wave of enthusiasm and expectation to Rocky Top. His decision to return for his senior season in 1997, bypassing the NFL Draft, remains a gold standard of commitment and love for the college game and the Tennessee community.

In the NFL, Manning’s resume speaks for itself: two Super Bowl titles, five NFL MVP awards, 14 Pro Bowl appearances, more than 71,000 passing yards, and a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in 2021. From his iconic years with the Indianapolis Colts to his rejuvenated run with the Denver Broncos, Manning was the embodiment of precision, preparation, and poise. His pre-snap audibles, famously shouting “Omaha!,” became part of football culture. ESPN’s selection of Manning as one of the greatest quarterbacks of the last quarter century is a no-brainer—but still, for those in Knoxville, it feels like a family member getting the spotlight he so richly deserves once more.

Equally deserving, and perhaps more heartwarming due to his underdog story, is the selection of Morgan Cox to the ESPN All Quarter Century Team. Cox’s journey to NFL greatness wasn’t as celebrated as Manning’s, but it is just as inspirational—maybe even more so. As a long snapper, Cox plays a position often overlooked until a mistake occurs. But his consistency, professionalism, and excellence have made him a standout in the league for over a decade. That he has done so in such a critical yet anonymous role makes his honor all the more remarkable.

Cox walked on at Tennessee and earned a scholarship the hard way—through grit, reliability, and steady improvement. From 2005 to 2009, he handled long-snapping duties with precision, helping the Volunteers maintain a strong special teams unit throughout his tenure. Though he was never in the spotlight during his college career, those within the program knew they had something special in Cox—a dependable player whose value far outweighed his visibility.

After going undrafted, Cox signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010, beginning a professional journey that would span multiple Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl ring. Over the years, he became the model for the long snapper position, a steady hand on a position group where precision is critical and errors are costly. As part of the “Wolf Pack” special teams unit in Baltimore, Cox helped deliver some of the most consistently excellent performances in the league. He later joined the Tennessee Titans, further cementing his legacy as a homegrown Volunteer who gave back to his roots.

What makes Cox’s selection especially poignant is the rare recognition it brings to a position that rarely draws headlines. ESPN’s decision to include a long snapper at all is a nod to the evolving appreciation for all facets of football—and Cox being that choice speaks volumes about the respect he has earned among peers, coaches, and analysts. For Tennessee fans, seeing Cox’s name alongside NFL giants on this All Quarter Century Team is not just a celebration of his skill, but also of perseverance, patience, and passion.

Together, Manning and Cox represent two sides of the same coin—one a superstar who rewrote the narrative of quarterbacking, the other a steadfast specialist who quietly built a reputation for excellence over years of unnoticed brilliance. Both, however, share a common root: the University of Tennessee, a program that helped shape their character, prepare their bodies, and fuel their dreams.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, along with university officials and athletics administrators, wasted no time in offering heartfelt congratulations to both alumni. “To have not one, but two Volunteers selected to ESPN’s All Quarter Century Team is a tremendous honor for our program,” Heupel said in a statement. “Peyton and Morgan represent everything we want our student-athletes to be—dedicated, humble, relentless, and elite. They make us proud every day.”

Across social media, current and former Tennessee players echoed similar sentiments, applauding Manning and Cox for their careers and the integrity with which they conducted themselves. “Two of the best to ever do it—and two of the best people you’ll ever meet,” said former Vols running back Arian Foster. “They never forgot where they came from, and they’ve always represented Tennessee with class.”

Indeed, both men have maintained deep ties to Knoxville. Manning frequently returns to the university, whether it’s guest coaching at spring practices, mentoring young players, or speaking at graduation ceremonies. His “Manning Scholars” initiative continues to help deserving Tennessee students reach academic success. Cox, though more reserved in his public appearances, has been equally committed—often speaking with Tennessee special teams units, sharing his story of perseverance, and mentoring specialists coming through the pipeline.

Their selections to this historic ESPN list not only honor their personal careers but serve as a reminder of what the Tennessee Volunteers program is capable of producing. It’s not just about Saturdays in Neyland Stadium—it’s about shaping young men for greatness, whatever their path may be. Whether that path leads to record-breaking NFL careers or under-the-radar consistency in critical roles, the orange and white tradition remains a constant foundation for excellence.

In a time when college football is rapidly evolving—where NIL deals, transfer portal chaos, and coaching carousel headlines dominate the conversation—Peyton Manning and Morgan Cox are a reminder of what endures. Grit. Loyalty. Class. Preparation. Purpose.

As the ESPN All Quarter Century NFL Team cements their names among the game’s elite, the Tennessee Volunteers celebrate not only their professional achievements but also the journey that began in Knoxville. For young athletes wearing the “Power T” today, their legacy is more than history—it’s inspiration.

Congratulations, Peyton Manning and Morgan Cox. Tennessee is proud of you—not just for what you did, but for how you did it. Your legacy is more than gold jackets and accolades; it’s a reflection of a program that raised you, a fanbase that never stopped believing in you, and a game that is better because you played it the right way.