Peyton Manning returning to Tennessee as professor - ESPN

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Peyton Manning was a star both on and off the field at the University of Tennessee, and now he's returning to his alma mater as a professor.

The university announced Monday that the College of Communication and Information has appointed Manning as a professor of practice in the fall 2023 term. The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback will join select classes during the academic year as a featured expert and work alongside the college's faculty to provide learning experiences for CCI students at Tennessee.

«There is no other ambassador for our college and university like Peyton Manning, and we are proud to welcome him to the college's faculty,» said Joseph Mazer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. «Peyton is a true Volunteer, and I look forward to our students gaining invaluable knowledge from him as we continue to prepare the next generation of communication and information leaders.»

Manning graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Tennessee with a degree in speech communications and led the Volunteers to an SEC championship in 1997. He has remained a staunch supporter of his alma mater while becoming a fixture in the media and entertainment world.

This football season will be his third on ESPN2's popular «ManningCast,» as he and younger brother Eli combine to do an alternate broadcast during «Monday Night Football» games. Manning will co-host the Country Music Association Awards for the second straight year in November alongside Luke Bryan. Last year marked the first time the CMA tapped a professional athlete to host its annual ceremony. Manning has also hosted NBC's «Saturday Night Live» in 2007 and the ESPY Awards in 2017. He launched his Omaha Productions entertainment company in 2020,