Mississippi Newspaper Scared NFL Fans With Random Archie Manning Headline

The daily newspaper had fans panicking over its obituary-like Manning headline.

Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; (L to R) Former NFL quarterbacks Eli Manning, Archie Manning, and Peyton Manning pose with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey (2nd Left) prior to the SEC Championship game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

A Mississippi newspaper scared NFL fans when it published a random story with an obituary-like headline on former NFL quarterback Archie Manning on Tuesday.

The Clarion-Ledger, the second-oldest company in the state of Mississippi, ran an article with this obituary-like headline: "Archie Manning: Ole Miss football legend, dad of Eli, Peyton, grandfather of Arch, is 75."

The post instantly scared NFL fans, who thought something had happened to Manning, the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft and a two-time Pro Bowl selection at QB.

Why did you do that.

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) July 3, 2024

Def thought he was dead.

— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) July 3, 2024

You had us worried sick

— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) July 3, 2024

Contrary to what this headline would make one believe, Manning is alive and well. And, as this fan pointed out, it's not even Manning's birthday, which was on May 19.

It’s not even his birthday and you’re out here writing his obit

— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) July 3, 2024

So, the Clarion-Ledger, with a word salad headline filled with search-friendly terms, wrote a piece letting NFL fans know that Manning is 75 years old— 44 days after he turned 75.

Oh, and those looking for some form of written content from the story would be disappointed. Mississippi's largest newspaper instead compiled seemingly every known photograph taken of Manning and spliced them together into one gigantic photo album.

Surely there was a better way.