Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning officially announced his retirement from the NFL at a press conference Monday morning.
The five-time MVP is retiring after 18 NFL seasons, dozens of passing records, five MVP trophies and two Super Bowl championships, one with the Broncos and a second with the Indianapolis Colts.
Just shy of 40, Manning will forgo $19 million and a 19th season in the NFL.
His first came in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 1998. The Colts gave up on him after a series of neck surgeries forced Manning to miss all of the 2011 season and left him without feeling in the fingertips of his right hand.
The NFL is investigating allegations that human growth hormone was shipped to his home in his wife's name following an Al Jazeera report - Manning dismissed the story as "garbage." And in a new lawsuit filed last month claiming a hostile work environment for women at the University of Tennessee, Manning was cited for his alleged harassment of a female trainer in 1996.
Manning's retirement leaves the Broncos with $19 million in salary cap relief they can use to try to sign his long-time backup, Brock Osweiler, who's set to become a free agent Wednesday.
Manning finished in a tie with Favre for most regular-season wins with 186. His victory in Super Bowl 50 was his 14th in the postseason, one more than Favre, making him the NFL's only 200-win quarterback. (AP)
