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The slate of awards that are sure to follow Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning's historic 2013 season has begun, as Manning has been named Sports Illustrated's 2013 Sportsman of the Year.
In 2013, Manning has led the Broncos to league highs in total offense (453.4 ypg), passing (333.6 ypg), receiving (344.4 ypg) and points scored (535). Manning's 47 touchdown passes during the Broncos' 11-3 start puts him four TDs away from breaking Tom Brady's record for most touchdowns thrown in a season.
SI's Sportsman of the Year issue is on sale now (click to enlarge).
Read the Sports Illustrated story here (it's excellent; SI Senior Writer Lee Jenkins interviewed over 30 people for the story). A comment from SI's Peter King --
"At first, when I knew we were considering Manning, I thought: good choice. Lifetime-achievement-award choice," says SI Senior Writer and NFL guru Peter King. "But if you isolate this year, you're looking at a player two years removed from four neck procedures that would have prompted many 35-year-old legends to choose retirement. He has his Super Bowl. He has his MVPs. Now he's on the verge of breaking the most important single-season quarterback records (touchdown passes and passing yards) in the 94-year history of the game. He threw seven touchdown passes against the defending Super Bowl champs. And he's got his team set to win the top seed in the AFC. Who plays his best-wounded, with so many great young guns chasing him-at 37?"
Manning is just one of eight professional football players to be named Sportsman. He joins Pete Rozelle (1963), Terry Bradshaw ('79), Reggie Williams ('87), Joe Montana ('90), Tom Brady (2005), Brett Favre ('07), and Drew Brees ('10).
Previous SI Sportsmen of the Year
|
1954 |
Roger Bannister, Track |
1975 |
Pete Rose, Baseball |
1995 |
Cal Ripken Jr., Baseball |
|
1955 |
Johnny Podres, Baseball |
1976 |
Chris Evert, Tennis |
1996 |
Tiger Woods, Golf |
|
1956 |
Bobby Morrow, Track |
1977 |
Steve Cauthen, Horse Racing |
1997 |
Dean Smith, College Basketball |
|
1957 |
Stan Musial, Baseball |
1978 |
Jack Nicklaus, Golf |
1998 |
Mark McGwire, Baseball |
|
1958 |
Rafer Johnson, Track |
1979 |
Terry Bradshaw, Pro Football |
|
Sammy Sosa, Baseball |
|
1959 |
Ingemar Johansson, Boxing |
|
Willie Stargell, Baseball |
1999 |
U.S. Women's National Soccer Team |
|
1960 |
Arnold Palmer, Golf |
1980 |
U.S. Olympic Hockey Team |
2000 |
Tiger Woods, Golf |
|
1961 |
Jerry Lucas, College Basketball |
1981 |
Sugar Ray Leonard, Boxing |
2001 |
Randy Johnson, Baseball |
|
1962 |
Terry Baker, College Football |
1982 |
Wayne Gretzky, Pro Hockey |
|
Curt Schilling, Baseball |
|
1963 |
Pete Rozelle, Pro Football |
1983 |
Mary Decker, Track |
2002 |
Lance Armstrong, Cycling |
|
1964 |
Ken Venturi, Golf |
1984 |
Edwin Moses, Track |
2003 |
Tim Duncan, Pro Basketball |
|
1965 |
Sandy Koufax, Baseball |
|
Mary Lou Retton, Gymnastics |
|
David Robinson, Pro Basketball |
|
1966 |
Jim Ryun, Track |
1985 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pro Basketball |
2004 |
Boston Red Sox |
|
1967 |
Carl Yastrzemski, Baseball |
1986 |
Joe Paterno, College Football |
2005 |
Tom Brady, Pro Football |
|
1968 |
Bill Russell, Pro Basketball |
1987 |
Athletes Who Care |
2006 |
Dwyane Wade, Pro Basketball |
|
1969 |
Tom Seaver, Baseball |
1988 |
Orel Hershiser, Baseball |
2007 |
Brett Favre, Pro Football |
|
1970 |
Bobby Orr, Pro Hockey |
1989 |
Greg LeMond, Cycling |
2008 |
Michael Phelps, Swimming |
|
1971 |
Lee Trevino, Golf |
1990 |
Joe Montana, Pro Football |
2009 |
Derek Jeter, Baseball |
|
1972 |
Billie Jean King, Tennis |
1991 |
Michael Jordan, Pro Basketball |
2010 |
Drew Brees, Pro Football |
|
|
John Wooden, College Basketball |
1992 |
Arthur Ashe Tennis |
2011 |
Pat Summitt, College Basketball |
|
1973 |
Jackie Stewart, Auto Racing |
1993 |
Don Shula, Pro Football |
|
Mike Krzyzewski, College Basketball |
|
1974 |
Muhammad Ali, Boxing |
1994 |
Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating |
2012 |
LeBron James, Pro Basketball |
|
|
|
|
Johann Olav Koss, Speed Skating |
2013 |
Peyton Manning, Pro Football |
Congratulations to Peyton Manning for his first award! Let's hope League MVP -- and Super Bowl MVP -- are not far behind!