Peyton Manning made sure to pay tribute to a former Tennessee Volunteer who is now a Baseball Hall of Famer. Todd Helton was voted into Cooperstown on Tuesday after a 17-year Major League Baseball career that began and ended in Denver.
Manning, who was Helton’s teammate at Tennessee in 1994, made sure to congratulate him on social media.
Peyton Manning congratulates Todd Helton — his fellow quarterback at Tennessee — on his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/CZzadTWJqT
— MLB (@MLB) January 24, 2024
Todd Helton introduces NFL shortstop Peyton Manning with the ball for the ceremonial first pitch before the 2021 MLB All-Star baseball game.
The future baseball star completed 36 of 66 passes for 406 yards and 36 touchdowns this season before being sidelined with an injury itself led to Manning taking the QB job.
Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Manning, who had a 17-year NFL career, repeated with Helton in Denver for two seasons when the legendary quarterback played for the Broncos in 2012 and 2013.
Peyton Manning isn’t the only quarterback from the 1994 Tennessee Volunteers who can call himself a Hall of Famer. After Todd Helton was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Manning congratulated his former college teammate:
“Todd, congratulations on your induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Helton will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 21, along with third baseman Adrian Beltre and catcher Joe Mauer.
Helton and Manning were both members of the Volunteers’ football team in the 1990s, but the former clearly made the right decision to pursue a career in baseball. And the latter naturally became one of the best signal callers in NFL history as a Hall of Famer, five-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion.
In 1994, University of Tennessee QB Todd Helton got hurt and was replaced by some freshman named Peyton Manning.
Helton ended up pursuing baseball instead of football and last night was named a HOFer. 👏🔥
(📸: peytonmanning/IG) pic.twitter.com/pcNIyXZ2qr
— theScore (@theScore) January 24, 2024
Tuesday was a big day for Helton as the Colorado Rockies star was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Adrian Beltre and Joe Mauer. Now he’s a Hall of Famer and college football player.
The Colorado Rockies select top speaker for Todd Helton’s Baseball Hall of Fame film: Peyton Manning. They were also teammates, with Helton playing on the Tennessee football team with Manning. And now, they’re all in their respective sports hall of fame.
Two hall of famers in one QB room!
One in Canton and now the other in Cooperstown 🏆
Congratulations to #VFL Todd Helton! pic.twitter.com/BwoR2lpFar
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 23, 2024
“For 17 years, every day has been dedicated to one team, one city, and one passionate fan base,”
Manning said in the video released Tuesday. Todd, congratulations on your induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Helton is the first UT player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Helton is a baseball star at Tennessee, but he’s also like the Vols’ quarterback. In 1994, he briefly started at Tennessee after Jerry Colquitt injured his knee in the season opener. Rookie Manning took over the starting job after Helton was injured.
Helton spent his entire 17-year career in Denver, and his time in Colorado overlapped with Manning’s before retiring in 2013. Helton’s final MLB game at Coors Field featured Manning’s final home run.
Helton graduated from Knoxville Central High School and was a two-time first-team All-American at Tennessee before being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 1995 MLB Draft.
He finished his college career as the 1995 National Baseball Player of the Year and SEC Athlete of the Year. Who would have thought there would be two Hall of Famers in the Tennessee Football Hall of Fame Class of 1994?
Knoxville native, former Tennessee shortstop and Colorado Rockies legend Todd Helton is set to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Manning, another Hall of Famer from Tennessee in 1994, is also inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame. Although Manning spent most of his time in Indianapolis, his college teammates played together in Denver for several years.
Manning’s first two seasons with the Denver Broncos (2012 and 2013) were the final two seasons of Helton’s Colorado and MLB career.
The former Knoxville Central High School Bobcat played 17 seasons with the Rockies, starting and finishing his career at the position. However, Helton led Tennessee to the College World Series in 1995 for the second time in program history.
During the 1994-1995 academic sports calendar, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning began his career with future Hall of Fame baseball player Todd Helton who led Tennessee to the College World Series during the 1995 season for just the second time in program history.
That’s why Manning was one of the best choices to narrate Helton’s Hall of Fame movie to the Rocky Mountains. Manning and Helton delighted the people of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Denver, Colorado during their illustrious career.
Rocky Top ➡️ Rocky Mountains ➡️ Cooperstown pic.twitter.com/mqzBLmM8dJ
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) January 23, 2024
“Absolutely!” Helton responded to Bob Costas’ question about whether he would bring Manning to the MLB Network meeting. If he wants to come, he can bring his son, he is more than welcome to come.
Peyton Manning and Colorado Rockies slugger Todd Helton have a special bond. Helton played a few games before injuring his knee and was replaced by rookie Peyton Manning.
The two remained friends after their careers took different directions. Manning took to social media to congratulate his former teammate on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Peyton Manning couldn’t be happier with his friends.
Peyton Manning was at former Tennessee Football teammate Todd Helton’s final game at Coors Field. 👏 pic.twitter.com/RdGpd4zJt8
— MLB (@MLB) January 23, 2024
There was a time when it looked like Todd Helton was out of the Hall of Fame, but in recent years he has become more involved in the sport. Manning and Helton quickly developed a friendship while playing together at Tennessee.
This friendship lasted throughout their careers and even long after their careers ended. Helton didn’t want to see his friend get hurt, so he asked Manning to visit the Rockies himself.
Now that both players have retired, they will be remembered as greats in their respective sports. During his career, Helton was a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, MLB RBI leader (2000) and MLB batting champion (2000).
For Manning, his career accomplishments are a mile long. He ended his career as a five-time MVP, seven-time First-team All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl champion, the record for most passing yards in a season and most passing touchdowns in a season, to name a few.
Fans had a lot to convey:
We love to see it
— Kayla 𓆩♡𓆪 (@kaylascarr) January 24, 2024
Football to baseball? Bizarre. Let's discuss literature instead.
— missa❤️ (@SugarMissa1) January 24, 2024
He's your fan , a friend and more
— Mikaela Ross (@MikaelaRossy) January 24, 2024
Helton looks like a character in a one man movie about someone getting lost in the Colorado woods
— ASnyder (@ASnyder0913) January 24, 2024
Todd Helton with a Hall-of-Fame-worthy hidden ball trick. 😂 pic.twitter.com/GRtuzHuZV8
— MLB (@MLB) January 24, 2024
@Nike time to bring this shirt back
— Jonathan Adkins (@JonathanCAdkins) January 23, 2024
Great picture
— peteranthonykinsel (@buck342) January 24, 2024
Was this before or after Peyton put his balls on the girls face?
— DragonPicks (@PicksDragon) January 24, 2024
This moment and video is awesome!
— Kenny (@baseball__etc) January 24, 2024
I was at the Toddfather’s final game at Coors. He stepped up to the plate on his first at bat, got a standing ovation and promptly deposited a meatball into right field. Place went nuts.
— Put em away MJ (@45aint23) January 24, 2024
One of the best pure hitters of our time! Great day for all of us who had the good fortune to watch this legend play. #HeltonHOF pic.twitter.com/DgmvGijoYv
— BC (@2001BlakeSt) January 23, 2024
If only we had real owners he could have been a WS champion too
— Garrett (@COnative1987) January 23, 2024
Never forget him making the last out that sent the Rox to the World Series
— Sean Rohacik (@sean_rohacik) January 23, 2024
Were there two Hall of Famers in the Tennessee quarterback room?
Find out at 6 PM ET on @MLBNetwork.
— MLB (@MLB) January 23, 2024
Peyton manning has been swag-less his whole life! 😘🔥
— Latex Bella – Femdom Onlyfans (@LatexBella) January 23, 2024
Legends all around
— Captain's Corner (@Captain2Corner) January 23, 2024
Peyton Manning, Brad Paisley, and Todd Helton all went to college together?
— Blastbeat Industries (@BlastbeatATX) January 24, 2024
Man I never realized this was the same Todd Helton that started over Peyton at Tenn. Wow! Helton really a beast.
— Young Doom 🇺🇸 (@NoFrankOcean) January 24, 2024
