A closer look at the career of Archie Manning, the only player to wear No. 8 in Saints history
New Orleans Saints opening day kickoff is in only 8 days, when the Saints host the Arizona Cardinals on September 7. Heading into the 2025 season, only one player has worn No. 8 in the 59-year history of the Saints. That player is quarterback Archie Manning, the second overall choice in the 1971 NFL draft after an outstanding collegiate career with the Mississippi Rebels.
Elisha Archibald Manning III, now age 76, was anointed as the savior of Saints football in 1971, whether fair or not. New Orleans also did an awful job at surrounding him with talent, although he did have an offense loaded with skill position talent in the latter stages of his Saints career. Manning started 129 of his 134 games with New Orleans. He had a 35-91-3 record, a winning percentage of .272. He’d take a heinous beating throughout his career, but outside of missing all of 1976 with a shoulder injury missed more than three games only three times.
Archie Manning was traded to the Houston Oilers during the 1982 campaign. He played his last five seasons with the Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, going a combined 0-10 as a starter. His career in New Orleans would result in he and Danny Abramowicz being the first two inductees into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1988. Manning was also one of the first to be inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor when established in 2013, a group that also included Pro Football Hall of Famers Rickey Jackson and Willie Roaf.
Manning, as a Saint, had a 55.4% completion percentage while throwing for 21,734 yards with 115 passing touchdowns, 18 rushing scores, and 156 interceptions. He is second only to Drew Brees in franchise history for passing yards, completions, and attempts while being third in touchdown passes.
Archie is also famously the father of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and probable Hall of Famer Eli Manning. Arch Manning, the current quarterback of the Texas Longhorns and a 2025 Heisman Trophy favorite, is the grandson of Archie as he looks to carry on the family football tradition.