You’d think Peyton Manning, at 38 years old, would know nearly everything about what it takes to be a successful quarterback.
Apparently it’s never too late to stop learning.
The Denver Broncos quarterback sought advice from one of football’s top minds last week when he and Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase paid a visit to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
Saban, who is the only coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different schools (LSU in 2003 and Alabama in 2009, 2011 and 2012), was happy to oblige the future Hall of Famer.
“To be honest with you, he was just trying to learn so he could be a better player,” Saban told AL.com’s Andrew Gribble. “…After all the experience and knowledge that he has, he’s going out and trying to seek more knowledge and understanding of the game of football so he can play better.”
Saban had brief NFL experience as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005 to 2006 and once squared off against Manning’s Colts in a late-season ’06 matchup, which Indianapolis won 27-22.
The decorated coach also took the opportunity to learn from Manning by grilling the quarterback on the no-huddle offense, including which defenses are best suited to slow it.
“That was kind of a mutual, hopefully beneficial — I know it was a benefit to us,” Saban said. “I hope it was a benefit to them as well.”
Opponents of the Broncos and Crimson Tide, beware. The best are getting better.
