Peyton Manning is now dabbling in NBA film study

Peyton Manning was a noted film rat as an NFL quarterback, and he took an invitation to study some NBA film.

During his NFL career, Peyton Manning was a noted film junkie as he set multiple league records. Even as he physically declined, after multiple neck surgeries, that attention to detail allowed him to sustain a high level of play for a while longer than he may have otherwise in the second phase of his career with the Denver Broncos.

Over their time playing and coaching in Indianapolis, with the Colts and Butler University respectively, Manning and Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens became friends. The Celtics played in Denver, where Manning has apparently maintained residence, against the Nuggets on Monday night. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Stevens invited Manning to study film in preparation for that game.

Manning spoke to the team as a whole, with some of the cliches you might expect from such a speech. But a quote from Stevens about Manning, in regard specifically to the film session, comes off as a vast understatement.

“He’s one of the better film watchers I’ve ever been around.”

Manning couldn’t have completely understood what he was watching, as Himmelsbach passed along from Celtics assistant Micah Shrewsberry, but his overall study acumen surely benefited all involved.

Aside from doing commercials, Manning has kept his post-playing career plans under wraps and subject to speculation. But he has taken on a football version of Kobe Bryant’s ESPN+ show Detail, and he’s exactly as good as you’d expect, breaking down the intricacies of quarterback play.

The step into studying NBA film was probably a one-shot deal for Manning, as part of an invitation from (and as a favor to) Stevens. But if he really wanted to dive in and fully understand basketball concepts, Manning is likely to be a quick study.