Colts retire Peyton Manning’s jersey, to erect statue

The Indianapolis Colts have retired Peyton Manning’s No. 18 jersey, and will erect a statue of their former quarterback outside Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts have retired Peyton Manning’s No. 18 jersey, and will erect a statue of their former quarterback outside Lucas Oil Stadium.

The team announced the news Friday during a press conference with Manning.

Manning won the Super Bowl with Indianapolis in 2007 and spent the first 14 seasons of his career with the team. He was selected first overall out of Tennessee in 1998 and rose to stardom as a Colt, winning four MVP awards.

Manning’s final season with the team was spent recovering from injury, and as the Colts transitioned to Andrew Luck at quarterback, Manning was released. He joined the Broncos in 2012. At the time of his release, Colts owner Jim Irsay said no Colt would ever wear No. 18 again, and he made that stance official on Friday.

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No future Colt will ever wear the number 18. Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts jersey is officially retired. pic.twitter.com/z893Fsb4eg

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 18, 2016

The Colts tweeted an early rendering of what Manning’s statue might look like.

What do you think #ColtsNation? #ThankYouPeyton pic.twitter.com/9s5wViQRO2

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 18, 2016

Manning retires as the winningest quarterback of all time.