Could Peyton Manning buy the Denver Broncos?

Peyton Manning finished his playing career with the Denver Broncos, but could he eventually buy the team?

Since his playing career ended with a win in Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos have yet to capably replace Peyton Manning. What exactly he would do after his career was over has been an open question, as he’s moved to doing “Peyton’s Places” for ESPN and now doing an ESPN2 alternative Monday Night Football telecast with brother Eli.

Manning lingers as a candidate to step into the broadcast booth, should he want to now that his brother is retired. Over the years, there’s also been buzz about him eventually stepping into a top front office role with a team. He can pretty much do whatever he wants, within his own motivation and desire.

The Denver Broncos ownership situation has been in flux for years, after Pat Bowlen’s death. A board of trustees has been managing the team, as Bowlen’s children battle over who will take over as principal owner. There must be a consensus among the children, and since that hasn’t happened yet it’s safe to say it’s not happening. A trial set for July was vacated, which pushed the idea the team will be put up for sale.

Could Peyton Manning buy the Denver Broncos?

The timeline for when, or if, the Broncos will be put up for sale is unclear. But according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Manning has had contact with prospective ownership groups to see how he might be able to have a role as a minority investor as well asperhaps in team management.

Hip hop mogul Jay-Z and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have surfaced as potential bidders to buy the Broncos. But the team may set a new mark for an NFL franchise sale, and it would be a narrow segment of people who have the money to be the controlling owner (Bezos certainly does. Jay-Z might not, but he would certainly have great value as a public face of an ownership group).

Where Manning might fit with a role in possible bids made by Bezos, Jay-Z or anyone else to buy the Broncos is unclear. It’s possible he’s finding he isn’t wanted to be a part of it. But it’s hardly surprising he’s doing some due diligence to see how he might fit in a new ownership and management structure for the team, as he keeps all his post-playing career options open.