Peyton Manning is the Reason NFL Ratings Are Down

Blame Peyton Manning for the NFL Ratings Slump

Lots of people are speculating about the causes for the slump in NFL tv ratings over the past year. Last year it was the presidential election. Or maybe it was Tom Brady being suspended. Maybe it was lack of competition.

There's only one real reason why less people started watching football last year.

Peyton Manning's retirement.

Let's face it - love him or hate him, Peyton Manning was a ratings giant during his playing days in the NFL.



Photo courtesy of Variety

Who else in the NFL engenders that level of popularity and greatness?

Tom Brady? He's loved and hated in equal degrees and doesn't have the likability factor that Manning did.

Eli Manning?  - Peyton's little brother is known far more for his sideline scowl than his sense of humor. Unless it involves a commerical with Peyton. Despite two Super Bowl rings, there's still a fair amount of controversy over just how good this particular Manning is.

Cam Newton? He has the talent and the personality, but his pouts and tantrums following losses are well-documented. He also needs to bring back Nate.

Andrew Luck? Actually needs to get on the field and play.  Also needs to be traded to a new team where he can actually win.

Drew Brees? Likable and outstanding as a quarterback.  For some reason, he's never quite grown the fan base that Manning did.

Matt Ryan? - Bleh. Nice guy, good quarterback. Has a penchant for comebacks but the Falcons are not a widely followed team. Had he won the Super Bowl, things might have been a bit different for him, but not he's just the butt of too many jokes (28-3 anyone?)

Every other quarterback in the league who even has the potential to be good falls into one of the above categories. The rest of the quarterbacks are just not nearly as good and hard to support.

The best thing that the NFL could do would be to encourage Manning back into the NFL in some way: owner, broadcaster, or studio analyst. Even in owning a team, I would count on a number of new fans would turn in to see how they did. Until then, expect the ratings slide to continue.