Colts to retire Manning’s No. 18, add statue to stadium

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, left, poses with former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after announcing the retirement of Manning's jersey during a press conference at the NFL football team's practice facility in Indianapolis, Friday, March 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, left, poses with former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after announcing the retirement of Manning's jersey during a press conference at the NFL football team's practice facility in Indianapolis, Friday, March 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

By Associated Press March 18, 2016 4 min read

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Peyton Manning took one more victory lap around Indianapolis on Friday.

It’s not likely to be his last.

Less than two weeks after announcing his retirement in Denver, the record-breaking quarterback returned to his first NFL home to reminisce, thank supporters and receive a fitting send-off from the team he first played for. Colts owner Jim Irsay said Manning’s No. 18 jersey will be retired and the team will erect a statue of him at Lucas Oil Stadium in honor of the man who did a lot more than win games in Indy.

“When I got here, it was basketball, basketball, basketball and it was car racing, car racing, car racing. Football was probably in the third place and that’s no longer the case. It’s a football town,” Manning said. “It was fun to be a part of that transformation.”

For Manning, this was more like a second trip down memory lane.