NBC made an interesting Olympic decision this year by casting Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson alongside Mike Tirico as commentators for the Paris opening ceremony.
There are plenty of football fans who love Manning, and they undoubtedly appreciated the mention of the former quarterback’s wristband and the Skygate references in the wake of the Canadian football cheating scandal, but while some fans were pleased with Manning’s appearance in the coverage, there also seemed to be plenty who were upset by it.
The most common question I get asked on Twitter/X is, “Why? Manning is a great American athlete and one of the best QBs in NFL history, but he never played in an Olympics. Why is he in the coverage?”
But before we move on to the negative review, let’s take a quick look at Manning’s humorous wristband moment and some of the positive comments the former quarterback made about his coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
“That’s Peyton Manning being Peyton Manning” π
The sheriff came prepared with play-caller wristbands. #ParisOlympics Opening ceremony.
πΊ Opening Ceremony on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/eZubPCtRZ9
β NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning is wearing a QB wristband at the Olympic Games opening ceremony. Funny.
β Nick Stiles (@PoBoyProphet) July 26, 2024
Good thing Peyton Manning is wearing his Olympic cheat sheet wristband.
β Adam Shinder (@Adam_Shinder) July 26, 2024
LMMFAOOOOOO Peyton Manning wore the QB Play wristband
β Beak (@_oGbeeK) July 26, 2024
Here are some of the positive reviews:
Peyton Manning’s Olympic coverage is awesome!
β Kevin (@theKPexperience) July 26, 2024
I will never love Peyton Manning.
β Tara (@FabulousButEvil) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning helping broadcast the Olympics? I’d love to be a part of it.
β Kim ππ»ββοΈ (@kimt205) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning in the Olympics
β Christopher Sauer (@crsauer91) July 26, 2024
And Peyton Manning is an Olympic commentator. I love it.
β Sean (@smat_en) July 26, 2024
Nothing is more fun than listening to Peyton Manning and watching France videos ππ
β Jack Collier (@CorelliTV) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning should commentate on every Olympic sport
β Sugar Ray parody “Fly” (@Fly_SugarRay) July 26, 2024
I’m excited to see Peyton Manning commentating on the Olympics.
β Nel, Father of the Internet (@Nelstar15) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning, you’re great at everything you do
β F It We Ball Pierce (@JohnHavinchecks) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning reported during NBC’s coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony that he consumed copious amounts of red wine and baguettes in Paris this week.
βMichael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) July 26, 2024
Unfortunately the negative reviews outweighed the positive comments.
How did Peyton Manning get this job?
β Mateo (@Taytokins) July 26, 2024
of @nbc Commentators please stop talking. Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson are not saying anything. This is awful π¬ #Opening ceremony
β Spurgy Rose (@spurgyrose) July 26, 2024
Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning are already out of material.
β Rich Ryan (@RichTRyan) July 26, 2024
I really like the idea of ββdoing it on the Seine, but NBC’s lack of preparation for this is astonishing.
Why is Peyton Manning here? Why aren’t more facts revealed about the athlete and the country?
β Clay Sauertieg (@ByCSauertieg) July 26, 2024
The BBC gets a lot of flak and I haven’t watched their coverage in a while but their coverage of the Olympics is spot on. NBC is the worst. Why are they listening to Peyton Manning? Where are the ex-Olympians? Why is the chat such a pain? π©π©π©
β Jenny Shaw (@ProfJennyShaw) July 26, 2024
Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning aren’t great at this
β Jack (@jackm0429) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning is good at this kind of thing, but not so good at this.
β Patrick Andres (@PAndres2001) July 26, 2024
Mike Tirico, Peyton Manning, and Kelly Clarkson are one of the most awkward trios of all time
β Young Hubie Brown (@CDUBSpeaks) July 26, 2024
Mike Tirico said that E. coli levels in the Seine today were too high for swimmers to compete, so any competitions scheduled for today would have to be postponed. Peyton Manning added that some athletes should jump in. Well, maybe not.
β Helen Elliott (@helenenothelen) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning explains… why?
β Fluff (@gymnasticsfluff) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning’s voice just doesn’t suit the French Olympics
β Davis Remy (@davisr10) July 26, 2024
Who thought Peyton Manning was a good idea?
β Chas Reed (@creedhistory) July 26, 2024
What is Peyton Manning doing at an Olympic ceremony?
β Ben S | Chalk Talk (@BenSLASports) July 26, 2024
I love Kelly Clarkson⦠but⦠there is no reason for NBC to have her and Peyton Manning commentate on the Opening Ceremonies, they are not even former Olympians???
β Nini (@HeyThereNiNi) July 26, 2024
Why is Peyton Manning there?
β Mike Freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) July 26, 2024
Why will Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson be at the Opening Ceremony, but not past Olympians?
β Cleveland Guardians Fan (@MLBguardians) July 26, 2024
Why is Peyton Manning commentating on the Olympic opening ceremony? This is totally too Peyton Manning.
β Alex (@AGreenberg22) July 26, 2024
So they chose a world-famous athlete to host the Olympic opening ceremony, choosing Peyton Manning, a football player who had never competed in the Olympics.
β Fernando Gallo (@FernandoRGallo) July 26, 2024
No offense, but Peyton Manning shouldn’t be a commentator for the Olympics.
β k@hleen (@WakaFlockaLeen) July 26, 2024
Oh, why does NBC think we want to hear about Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson?
β Evan (@erg79) July 26, 2024
I loved hearing Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning commentating on the boat race on the Seine during the Olympic opening ceremony. So American. And Lady Gaga. Oh my goodness.
β Sarah (@QueSeraSarah_90) July 26, 2024
Are you saying NBC couldn’t find anyone better suited to announce the opening ceremonies than Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson?
β David (@luvbibimbap69) July 26, 2024
Who at NBC thought it was a great idea to have Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson appear next to Mike Tirico in the opening credits?
β Getβ― (@KiB_711) July 26, 2024
Can we ignore Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning? They don’t bring any value. #Olympic events
β David K ββ(@davidmjfly) July 26, 2024
I wish Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning wouldn’t talk to each other more. Please!
β John Lewis (@jrl_texas) July 26, 2024
I can live without Peyton Manning.
β Emily Kate (@emilyk8) July 26, 2024
Did anyone else think it was a good idea to have Peyton Manning do the Olympic Opening Ceremony? #Olympic events
β Diggler (@thorntonrules) July 26, 2024
so I #Opening ceremony is kind of cool, but it seems like a mess. The mix of location switching and pre-recorded skits is confusing. Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning are the worst.
β Halo (@halobrown67) July 26, 2024
When I’m looking for a broadcast team to guide me through this unique cultural moment of international celebration, I immediately think of Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson.
β Devin Field (@thatdevinfield) July 26, 2024
There were a lot of jokes, and a lot of viewers seemed genuinely confused — not necessarily positively or negatively, but perplexed.
If you watch the Olympic opening ceremony, you’ll see an animation of a minion nearly drowning in a sewer while Peyton Manning laughs, followed by the French national anthem.
β Sam Mintz (@samjmintz) July 26, 2024
I’ve always thought the Olympics needed more Peyton Mannings and Kelly Clarksons.
β Jack McMullen (@jack_mcmullen11) July 26, 2024
When I think of the Olympics, the first thing that comes to mind is Peyton Manning.
β Trent Marsh (@tmarsh1974) July 26, 2024
It’s still a bit odd that NBC chose former quarterback Peyton Manning to cover the Olympics, even though he’s never played in an Olympic Games. Maybe he’ll be a breakout star like the “Manning cast.”
β T-Bill (@tbillnw95) July 26, 2024
What on earth was NBC thinking when they chose Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning as their opening ceremony announcing team? They may be great, but they’re not the trio that immediately springs to mind.
β Tres Watson (@treswatson) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning is literally everywhere. He’s even been seen broadcasting the Olympic Opening Ceremony now.
β Ω (@ClasslessVol) July 26, 2024
Peyton Manning talks on NBC about his family hanging out with Snoop Dogg at the Olympics, and how America is really sending its best to Paris
β Tew Swagadorn (@swagadorn) July 26, 2024
Is that… Peyton Manning commentating on the Olympics? π
β T3 Bracketologyβ’οΈπ (@T3Bracketology) July 26, 2024
Why is NBC letting Peyton Manning cover the Olympics? π
β Matthew Farr (@MattFarr_50) July 26, 2024
Legendary broadcasting duo Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning
β Jake (@JakeOfOnline) July 26, 2024
Nothing symbolizes the Olympics more than Peyton Manning.
β The Reattack π¦ (@TheReattack) July 26, 2024
The Olympics aired live on NBC and Peacock this afternoon, and if you missed it, the Opening Ceremony will be rebroadcast in primetime tonight at 7:30 on NBC and Peacock.