Archie Manning – NFL Past Players

Considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL to play on some of the worst teams in the NFL. In his 12 years with the Saints Archie Manning never enjoyed a winning season. After the Saints he played for the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, who were both struggling at the time. All-in-all the Ol’ Miss Rebel played 14 seasons in the NFL and ended up with 23,911 yards passing and 125 touchdown passes. His 55.2% Completion Percentage ranks 116th among All-Time Career passers.

Image Gallery of Quarterback Archie Manning

Saints rookie Archie Manning in the 1971 when he led the Saints to a huge 24-14 upset of Dallas. Manning was the leading Saints ground-gainer this game with 52 yards as he ran for 2 scores and passed for another. He was also sacked 4 times. That looks like Dallas lineman Larry Cole coming in from the backside.

Giants linebacker Harry Carson readies himself against Archie Manning and the Saints.

Carl Eller bears down on the Saints Archie Manning. In 1974 Eller's 10 sacks were second best for the Vikings and he was named to the Pro Bowl.

Saints quarterback Archie Manning sets up to pass behind guard Robert Woods as Bronco Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar rushes. In 1979 The Saints and Broncos were both in sole position of 1st place of their respective divisions when they met at Mile High Stadium - very unprecedented for New Orleans at that time. The Broncos came out on top that day 10-3. That's Chuck Muncie at the left.

Considered one of the best quarterbacks to play for some some of the worst teams in NFL History. In his 14-year career he never had a winning season. The best he did was in 1979 when the Saints posted an 8-8 record and Archie made the Pro Bowl.

Archie Manning reflects on the similarities between him and Patriots Quarterback Jim Plunkett during the 1971 NFL season where both were NFL rookies.

The Saints Archie Manning in 1978. A Pro Bowler that year he was the first Saints players to make the Pro Bowl since 1969.

After leading the New Orleans Saints for almost 11 seasons Bum Phillips dealt him to the Oilers who in turn dealt him to the Vikings. He started 2 games for Minnesota in 1984 before retiring.

Fred Dryer of the Rams forces Archie from the pocket in 1977

Arguably the only consistently positive aspect of the Saints teams of the early 1970s.

Lyle Alzado and Archie Manning in the 1978 Pro Bowl

From his 1978 NFL season when he passed for 3416 yards, 17 touchdowns and had a 61.8 percentage completion. Archie was also named to his first Pro Bowl.

Literally the Heart and Soul of the Saints during the 1970s. Passed for almost 22,000 yards and 115 touchdowns after 11 years with New Orleans. Never had a winning season.

2 Time Pro Bowler finished his NFL career without ever playing during a winning season. Sacked 396 times during his 14-year career.

The frustration is clear on Pro Bowl quarterback Archie Manning’s face, a reflection of his 11 difficult seasons in New Orleans. Despite his talent, Manning endured a 35-91-3 record as a starter and was sacked 396 times over his 13-year career, a mark that still ranks 25th on the NFL’s all-time list.

Calling out signals against the Packers. Manning, a rookie in 1971, only made a brief appearance in the 29-21 upset of Green Bay.

Coy Bacon brings down the Saints signal caller
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Scrambles against the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1974 NFL season
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As a rookie in 1971 he scored the winning touchdown as time ran out in a stunning upset of the Los Angeles Rams

From his rookie year as he looks on from the sideline of the New Orleans Saints during the 1971 NFL Season

From a 1983 Preseason Game at the Super Dome - Oilers quarterback Archie Manning and Saint quarterback Kenny Stabler exchange greetings.

The rookie against San Fransisco in 1971

The Saints rookie quarterback scrambles against the San Francisco 49er defense.

The Saints Quarterback under pressure by the Detroit Lions Defense.

12 years as the Saints quarterback. When he left in 1982 he held literally every passing record in the Saints book.

Archie Manning at Ole Miss

Brought down again, this time by Atlanta Falcons defensive back Ken Reaves.

Under pressure from the Chicago Bears. He was sacked a total of 396 times in his 15 year career.

After 11 seasons in New Orleans he was traded to Houston and played a total of 8 games as an Oiler over before he was traded to Minnesota.

Archie Manning Football Cards and Covers

The Star of Ole Miss in the late 1960s. Here he graces the cover of Sports Illustrated in December of 1970.

4 of the Top College Draft prospects in the 1971 NFL Draft - Jim Plunkett of Stanford, Archie Manning of Ole Miss, Joe Thiesmann of Notre Dame and Rex Kern of Ohio State - grace the cover of the October issue of Sport Magazine. Jim Plunkett & Archie Manning would go #1 and #2 with Joe Theismann going in the 4th and Rex Kern went in the 10th.

His 4th of 11 long years in New Orleans. Despite talk of trade and offers from the WFL Archie started 11 games and was credited with 3 wins.

From the disastrous season of 1980 - the year of the A'ints. New Orleans went 1-15 on the year.

From 1982 - Archie's last year with the Saints.

The New Orleans star QB of the 70s is featured in the 1991 Dominos Pizza-Upper Deck Quarterback Challenge Card set.

Saints Old School Legend Archie Manning featured in the 2024 Topps Chrome Series.

Archie Manning All-Time Career Statistics

All-Time Regular Season Passing Totals
Year	Age	Team	#	Games	QBrec	Att	Cmp	Cmp%	Yards	Long	TD	Int	Y/A	Rating	Sacked	Yards Lost	4QC	GWD
1971	22	NOR	8	12	3-5-2	177	86	48.6	1164	63t	6	9	6.6	60.1	40♦	332♦	2	1
1972	23	NOR	8	14	2-11-1	448♦	230♦	51.3	2781	66t	18	21	6.2	64.6	43♦	347	1	1
1973	24	NOR	8	13	5-8-0	267	140	52.4	1642	65t`	10	12	6.1	65.2	28	177	1	1
1974	25	NOR	8	11	3-8-0	261	134	51.3	1429	79t	6	16	5.5	49.8	26	172	2	2
1975	26	NOR	8	13	2-11-0	338	159	47.0	1683	71t	7	20	5.0	44.3	49♦	390♦	1	1
1976	27	NOR	8	Missed Season Due to Shoulder Injury
1977	28	NOR	8	10	1-8-0	205	113	55.1	1284	59t	8	9	6.3	68.8	36	288	1	1
1978*	29	NOR	8	16	7-9-0	471	291	61.8	3416	71t	17	16	7.3	81.7	37	301	2	4
1979*	30	NOR	8	16	8-8-0	420	252	60.0	3169	85♦	15	20	7.5	75.6	17	140
1980	31	NOR	8	16	1-15-0	509	309	60.7	3716	56	23	20	7.3	81.8	41	311	1	1
1981	32	NOR	8	12	3-8-0	232	134	57.8	1447	55	5	11	6.2	63.6	21	164
1982	33	2 Teams	8	7	0-5-0	132	67	50.8	880	54	6	8	6.7	62.1	29	234
1 game Saints				1		7	1	14.3	3	3	0	2	0.4	0.0	2	18
6 games Oilers				6	0-5-0	125	66	52.8	877	54t	6	6	7.0	71.3	27	216
1983	2 Teams		8	5	0-3-0	88	44	50.0	755	47t	2	8	8.6	49.2	11	83
2 games Vikings			4	2		0	0		0	0	0	0			0	0
3 games Oilers			8	3	0-3-0	88	44	50.0	755	47t	2	8	8.6	49.2	11	83
1984	35	MIN	4	6	0-2-0	94	52	55.3	545	56	2	3	5.8	66.1	18	153
11 seasons Saints				134	35-91-3	3335	1849	55.4	21734	85	115	156	6.5	67.4	340	2640	11	12
1 ½ Seasons Oilers				9	0-8-0	213	110	51.6	1632	54	8	14	7.7	62.2	38	299
1½ Seasons Vikings				8	0-2-0	94	52	55.3	545	56	2	3	5.8	66.1	18	153
14-Year NFL Career				151	35-101-3	3642	2011	55.2	23911	85	125	173	6.6	67.1	396	3092	11	12

All Time Regular Season Rushing Totals
Year	Age	Team	#	Games	Att	Yards	Y/A	Long	TD
1971	22	NOR	8	12	33	172	5.2	17	4
1972	23	NOR	8	14	63	351	5.6	18	2
1973	24	NOR	8	13	63	293	4.7	23	2
1974	25	NOR	8	11	28	204	7.3	26	1
1975	26	NOR	8	13	33	186	5.6	16	1
1977	28	NOR	8	10	39	270	6.9	27	5
1978*	29	NOR	8	16	38	202	5.3	19	1
1979*	30	NOR	8	16	35	186	5.3	20	2
1980	31	NOR	8	16	23	166	7.2	24	0
1981	32	NOR	8	12	2	28	14.0	15	0
1982	33	2TM		7	13	85	6.5	24	0
6 games Oilers		HOU	8	6	13	85	6.5	24	0
1983	34	2TM		5	3	12	4.0	11	0
2 games Vikings		MIN	4	2	1	-1	-1.0	-1	0
3 games Oilers		HOU	8	3	2	13	6.5	11	0
1984	35	MIN	4	6	11	42	3.8	16	0
11 seasons Saints		NOR		134	357	2058	5.8	27	18
1 ½ Seasons Oilers		HOU		9	15	98	6.5	24	0
1½ Seasons Vikings		MIN		8	12	41	3.4	16	0
14-Year NFL Career				151	384	2197	5.7	27	18