Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning has no plans to come out of retirement, but he wishes one of his former coaches was still roaming the sidelines.

One of the biggest influences in Manning’s career was his first post-high school offensive coordinator. 

David Cutcliffe served as the Tennessee Vols’ offensive coordinator during Manning’s four seasons at Tennessee. 

Cutcliffe was later the head coach at Ole Miss during Eli Manning’s five seasons in Oxford. 

“Coach Cut” has also served as a mentor of sorts to Arch Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli. 

Cutcliffe, who is 70 years old, stepped down from his role as the head coach at Duke after the 2021 season (Cutcliffe had been the Blue Devils’ head coach since 2008). 

“I can’t watch [football] as a fan,” said Cutcliffe last week on The Rebel Report podcast. “My palms sweat. I mean, Peyton calls me, you know, names, because I’m not coaching still. Tom Moore, who’s a dear friend, who’s 85 or 86, who’s still coaching, calls me soft. Okay, take your shots, man. But you know, I’ve got 10 grandkids, and the most wonderful human being as a life partner. And I’m trying to make sure that I’m balancing life that way.” 

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Cutcliffe is arguably one of the best quarterback coaches of all time. Peyton, Eli, and Cooper (the oldest Manning brother) have shown a lot of trust in Cutcliffe over the last three decades — which is as strong an endorsement as any offensive coach could hope for.

And I’m sure Cutcliffe could still coach with the best of them. But I don’t blame him for preferring to spend time with family — especially given how stressful it is to be a college football coach in the NIL and transfer portal era.

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