Peyton Manning’s Bizarre Tanning Bed Trick Before His 1998 NFL Weigh-In Is Going Viral Again

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

At the 1998 NFL Combine, Peyton Manning faced intense scrutiny while competing against rival Ryan Leaf for the top draft spot. Analysts heavily debated his physical upside compared to Leaf’s massive athletic frame during the evaluation process. To counteract this perception, Manning meticulously prepared for every aspect of the weigh-in.

Specifically, he focused heavily on hitting his target weight of 228 pounds to prove his durability.

That is when he decided to institute an insane method to impress scouts.

How a Tanning Bed Explains Peyton Manning’s Combine Approach

Legendary sportswriter Peter King revealed a fascinating, untold pre-draft story about Peyton Manning in his recent book excerpt. During the 1998 NFL Combine, Manning fiercely competed with rival Ryan Leaf for the number-one draft pick.

Before the event, the Tennessee quarterback read media scouting reports criticizing his physical upside. Manning later admitted to King, “Somebody said I had no upside. I was like, Damn.” Because Leaf possessed a significantly bigger athletic frame, Manning felt highly motivated to look more imposing.

Consequently, he decided to completely obsess over his official physical appearance for the weigh-in. Manning explicitly recalled, “The weigh-in was my thing. That was my moment.” Therefore, he secretly went to a commercial tanning bed the day before the event. He firmly believed a dark tan would highlight his muscles and make him look much tougher. Ultimately, King used this bizarre tanning incident to illustrate Manning’s relentless, legendary psychological edge.

Then: ‘Here’s the one that’s kind of the next level. I’m in a group of like 30 players. And we have a coach assigned to the group. Leaf’s in my group. Coach is like, “Let’s go, we’re going to the weigh-in?” I said, “Coach, can I use the restroom?” He’s like, “All right, hurry up!” I go into the restroom.

‘There’s a couple scouts in there. I go in the stall and I rep 50 close-grip push-ups and dips on the toilet. No lie!’

Peyton Manning wanted to look ripped.

‘Now I’m walking in. Shirt’s off. Short shorts on. It’s kind of a weird thing. I went in there, stepped on the scale.

‘Manning, Peyton, quarterback, Tennessee, 6-foot-5-one-quarter. Weight, 2…3…0.’ I weigh 230!’

Manning was thrilled as he would later meet with the Colts. On the other side, Leaf would miss his meeting.

Colts Select Manning With The First Overall Pick

The Colts held the coveted first overall pick in the legendary 1998 NFL Draft. Management spent months fiercely debating whether to choose Peyton Manning or Washington State star Ryan Leaf. While Leaf possessed a stronger throwing arm, Manning completely blew team executives away during his formal interviews.

He even arrived with a detailed notebook full of questions for the Colts coaching staff. Consequently, team president Bill Polian recognized the young quarterback’s unmatched work ethic and exceptional football intelligence. Owner Jim Irsay also strongly supported drafting the focused Tennessee prospect to lead the franchise.

On draft day, Indianapolis officially made the franchise-altering decision to select Manning as the top pick. This monumental choice permanently transformed the organization’s future for decades to come. He quickly rewarded their immense faith by rewriting the NFL record books throughout his legendary career. Leaf unfortunately struggled heavily in the league, proving that the Colts made the absolute right choice.