INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts will build a statue of Peyton Manning for the front of Lucas Oil Stadium and will retire the jersey Manning wore when he played for the team.
What do you think #ColtsNation? #ThankYouPeyton pic.twitter.com/9s5wViQRO2
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 18, 2016
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
He's getting a statue, y'all... pic.twitter.com/DmpeoPyEES
— Michael Grady (@Grady) March 18, 2016
Colts owner Jim Irsay announced the news at a press conference with Manning Friday afternoon.
PHOTOS: Peyton comes back to Indy
"You just simply run out of words thinking about how much number 18 means to us," Irsay said.
Manning said he was humbled by the news.
"I will always be a Colt," he said.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 18, 2016
The former Colts quarterback, who announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this month, spent more than 30 minutes reminiscing about his time with the team.
Manning was drafted by the Colts in 1998, and played there for 14 years. He finished his career No. 1 or No. 2 in every major passing category, including passing yards, touchdowns and completions.
Manning won 141 games -- including one Super Bowl -- with the Colts.
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"I remember the old RCA dome -- how loud it used to be," he said.
He became emotional when he started talking about how many jerseys he would see in the stadium.
"I remember Colts fans, just the amount of jerseys they wore in the stadium, in the old RCA Dome, more than any other stadium in the league, in my opinion," Manning said.
Manning also touched on his impact on the city, both on the field and off the field.
MORE | Peyton Manning's legacy in Indianapolis goes far beyond the football field
"This town is a very philanthropic town and people love to help, and love to give, and so I was glad to join in that commitment to helping. And so the Peyback Foundation, we've tried to help out a lot of kids who maybe don't live easy and of course, my connection with the children's hospital at St. Vincent, it's one that I hope lasts for an eternity and one that I'm proud to still have and will always keep a connection with me, with this city off the field," he said.
"I mean, look, the Colts had been to the AFC Championship three years before I got here and were one, ya know, Hail Mary away from going to the Super Bowl, but I do recall, I mean, if you're going out and just kind of getting a poll it was basketball, basketball, basketball and it was car racing, car racing, car racing, and where football was probably in that third priority. And that is simply no longer the case, this is a football town and as good a football town as any. These fans love their team and they're talking about football in February, March, April, I mean it's year-round now," Manning said.
A final photo op for the day. @JimIrsay and Peyton Manning. pic.twitter.com/ZgdfNKsnom
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) March 18, 2016
The press conference ended with questions from reporters and of course, a question about his future. He said he would not be running for president, but would like to see more of his brother's Giants games.
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Manning says he wouldn't be interested in running for president. (It was a joke.)
— RTV6 Indianapolis (@rtv6) March 18, 2016
On his future, Manning left the question very open. Said he'd like to see Eli play in some Giants games more.
— RTV6 Indianapolis (@rtv6) March 18, 2016
