Who is NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning’s brother Cooper? He had to quit American football due to injury but celebrated the sport at a Super Bowl 2025 party – he’s also dad to Arch Manning

Feb 12 , 2025

The Manning brothers (from left): Cooper Manning, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning. Photo: @coopermanning/Instagram

The eldest son of American football legend Archie Manning had to quit the family game but still loves it: he was at a Super Bowl 2025 party with NFL stars Eli Manning – his brother – and Russell Wilson

Super Bowl 2025 weekend in New Orleans was a spectacle as always, with Kendrick Lamar playing the half-time show and the Philadelphia Eagles triumphing over Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of game night, NFL greats Russell Wilson and Eli Manning gathered at a pop-up of famed New York Italian restaurant Rao’s, reports Page Six.

This is the sixth time that the legendary Harlem eatery – which is notoriously difficult to get into – has held its annual pop-up at the Super Bowl, attracting American football stars. This year, Eli was joined by his father, New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning, and eldest brother Cooper.

The Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs at the Super Bowl 2025. Photo: AFP

Cooper Manning has been in the spotlight recently thanks to his son, Arch Manning, a quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, the official team at the University of Texas at Austin. Arch is known for breaking his famous uncles Eli and Peyton Manning’s high school records during his time at Isidore Newman School, per ESPN.

However, he hasn’t had much playtime with the Longhorns because his teammate Quinn Ewers has been the starting quarterback. “I think having your children struggle with some things is good,” Cooper said on The Dan Patrick Show regarding his son’s collegiate career, adding, “It’s part of growing up. Everybody likes a guy who can get beat down and come back.” Ewers recently declared for the NFL draft, according to ESPN, and Arch is in the running to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, an annual prize awarded to the top university-level player.

So, who is Cooper Manning?

Cooper Manning had to quit American football

Cooper Manning is the elder brother of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Photo: @coopermanning/Instagram

The eldest of Archie and Olivia Manning’s sons, Cooper Manning, 50, originally followed in his father’s footsteps. He played American football at Isidore Newman School as an all-state wide receiver, per People. He was well on his way to a collegiate career at University of Mississippi until a career-ending diagnosis of spinal stenosis – a condition where a narrowing spinal canal creates pressure on the spinal cord – forced him to hang up his jersey.

“When they took football away from me, I never took it out on the game,” he told USA Today, reflecting on his retirement. “I really never had any bitterness. I just said, this is the hand I’m dealt and I’m going to play it. I don’t know if I have it down pat yet, but I’m having fun trying,” he added.

What does Cooper Manning do for work?

Cooper Manning (right) with his wife, Ellen, and son, Arch. Photo: @coopermanning/Instagram

Cooper has been an American football commentator for The Manning Hour on Fox NFL Kickoff for 10 years. He also co-hosted NBC’s Capital One College Bowl alongside Peyton, per People. Every year, he joins his father and brothers for Manning Passing Academy, a camp where aspiring American football players from different high schools can learn from the professionals. According to Today, he previously worked for the company Howard Weil and is currently a senior managing director of investor relations at AJ Capital Partners.