Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning shows ultimate respect for fallen teammate on a special day that will forever be used to remember him
8/8 is an important day for the Denver Broncos.
Peyton Manning bleeds orange and blue. Ever since joining the Denver Broncos as a free-agent signing, he’s loved the city and the organization. After missing the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, which subsequently resulted in the organization parting ways, he became one of the biggest free-agent additions in league history. The rest is history.
Manning took to social media to honor his late fallen teammate, Demaryius Thomas. Thomas and Manning were teammates in Denver and grew to become very close. Tragically, at age 33, due to “complications of a seizure disorder,” Thomas lost his life in 2021.
Since his passing, due to his number being 88, August 8, or 8/8, is a day that many observe to celebrate and honor his legacy. Manning, being a former teammate of Thomas, wasted no time with an emotional message that’s quickly taken the internet by storm.
On Instagram, Manning gave the world a little bit more of an intimate look at the man that Thomas was. The caption read, “8-8. Today, we remember and reflect on the extraordinary impact DT had on the lives of so many. Proud to help carry on his legacy through the Demaryius Thomas Scholarship at Georgia Tech.”
8/8 day started back in 2022 to honor Thomas’ legacy.
Demaryius Thomas is a Broncos legend
Thomas, much like Manning, had his own legacy-defining moments with the franchise. None more exciting than his touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the overtime period in the 2011 playoffs, which remains one of the organization’s most exciting plays.
During his nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, Thomas amassed 9,000 yards with 60 touchdowns. The talented wide receiver would then go on to spend one year on the New York Jets and another for the Houston Texans.
Thomas Scholarship and Manning’s impact
On Georgia Tech’s official website, they’ve reported that Manning’s Peyback Foundation worked with the University to establish the Thomas Scholarship. Manning spoke on the decision back during its inception after the receiver’s tragic passing. Back in 2022, the former Broncos gunslinger once again spoke about Thomas’ lasting legacy during an official announcement on the inception of the Scholarship.
As Georgia Tech shared back in 2022, “Demaryius Thomas was an incredibly talented and unselfish teammate, but more importantly, he was a special person and friend,” Peyton Manning said. “My family and I miss him dearly, and we wanted to honor D.T.’s memory by partnering with the PeyBack Foundation with Georgia Tech to establish the Demaryius A. Thomas Scholarship Endowment.”
Continuing, “An important part of Demaryius’ legacy was the way he inspired the next generation to pursue their dreams with the same perseverance and determination that defined him. Through this scholarship to Georgia Tech, Demaryius will have a lasting impact on deserving youth from his hometown area who can follow in his footsteps and accomplish great things in life.”
Manning went on to help Denver hoist the Lombardi trophy and has been a staple in the community ever since. While leaving Indianapolis completely uprooted his life, Manning is firmly planted in the Denver area and is beloved across the entire NFL.
Now, once again, the former quarterback wants to remind the world of what an incredible player and man Thomas was.
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