Former Eagles LB Takes Shot at ESPN Over Declining Popularity of Eli, Peyton Manning’s ‘ManningCast’
· Yahoo Sports
Is the ManningCast’s shine wearing off? The NFL’s most alternative broadcast has always entertained, but its recent ratings have raised questions about whether the format is losing some of its appeal.
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The ESPN2 broadcast featuring Peyton Manning and Eli Manning averaged just 705,000 viewers during the Denver Broncos–Kansas City Chiefs season opener, raising some red flags.
Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and sports analyst Emmanuel Acho believes the issue is not necessarily the Manning brothers. Instead, he pointed to the way ESPN has shaped the broadcast.
Emmanuel Acho Takes Aim at ESPN’s ManningCast Format
Acho took to social media to share his thoughts on the ManningCast and questioned the decision to make the older Manning more of an entertainer during the broadcast.
“Taking maybe the greatest football mind of all time and turning him into a sit-down comedian was definitely a choice,” Acho said.
Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion, built his reputation around his ability to read defenses, identify coverages, and understand offensive schemes.
However, the ManningCast often mixes football discussion with comedy, celebrity appearances, and casual conversations between the brothers.
For fans looking for deeper football analysis, that balance has become frustrating at times.
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ManningCast Viewership Has Fallen From Its Early Peak
The 705,000 viewers for the Broncos-Chiefs game is still a sizeable audience for an alternate broadcast, but it is well below the numbers the ManningCast reached when it first launched in 2021.
The show averaged 1.6 million viewers across nine regular-season broadcasts in 2021 and reached a season high of 1.96 million, as fans embraced the relaxed approach and the novelty of watching Peyton and Eli call an NFL game together.
Over time, however, some viewers have grown tired of the celebrity interviews and other segments that take attention away from the game itself.
The ManningCast also faces more competition from alternative NFL coverage, including The Pat McAfee Show, as well as other personality-driven shows and interactive digital streams.
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ESPN Adds Manning Mode and Plans a Super Bowl LXI Broadcast
Despite the decline in ratings, the ManningCast remains an important part of ESPN’s NFL coverage.
This season, ESPN introduced Manning Mode to provide real-time data and advanced football analysis, and it has also scheduled a ManningCast presentation of Super Bowl LXI.
The broadcast has also produced plenty of viral moments and social media clips, helping keep Peyton and Eli connected with a younger audience.
Still, Acho’s comments raise the question of whether ESPN could get more from the older Manning by giving him more opportunities to showcase his football knowledge on the broadcast.
For viewers who tune in specifically for the brothers’ personalities, the current format may work just fine. But fans who want detailed football analysis may agree with Acho’s comments that Peyton’s football IQ could be put to better use.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.