Peyton Manning: Sports Illustrated Names Broncos QB Sportsman Of The Year 2013

Peyton Manning was named Sportsman Of The Year 2013 by Sports Illustrated.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, last year Lebron James was named Sportsman Of The Year.

Only the best of the best sports athletes receive this prize. For example, previous winners of the award include Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Arthur Ashe, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, and Michael Phelps. In 2012, Duke men’s basketball coach, and men’s Olympic team coach, Mike Krzyzewski and former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt shared the Sportsman of the Year.

When it comes to the NFL, Manning is only the eighth football player to be named Sportsman Of The Year. It’s also possible he may win his fifth NFL MVP award for the 2013-2014 NFL season (the previous awards were from 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009). And, to top if off, this season might see Peyton beating out Tom Brady’s NFL record for the highest number of touchdown passes in a single season, which currently stands at 50 (Manning has 47). He also has a shot at the yardage record, as well.

When covering Peyton Manning, Sports Illustrated starts with the history of the name Peyton and ends with how that name will likely be remembered in football history for a long time coming. But what makes him Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman Of The Year isn’t simply his athletic record or his single Super Bowl trophy. They say it’s how he makes an imprint on the people and communities he comes in contact with:

“Throughout his career Manning has written coaches and players who retire, as well as widows of coaches and players who pass away. He writes subjects of documentaries he’s seen and victims of tragedies he’s heard about. He writes his children every six months, even though they are years away from deciphering his cursive.”

Petyon Manning’s Sports Illustrated story won’t appear in print until December 23. With a 11-3 record so far, winning the 2013 Sportsman Of The Year award is pretty much like saying, “Merry Christmas Broncos!”

Do you think Peyton Manning deserves to be named Sportsman Of The Year 2013?