2026 NFL Draft Back in Play? Texas QB Arch Manning Contradicts His Grandfather

There’s so much speculation about Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s future, in the media and even within his own family, that it can be hard for him to keep up.

On Tuesday, Manning insisted he’s not plotting out how long he’ll stay at Texas or when he’ll enter the NFL draft, despite his grandfather’s recent prediction that he’ll be with the Longhorns through the 2026 season. “Arch isn’t going to do that,” Manning declared to Texas Monthly Magazine about the 2026 NFL Draft. “He’ll be at Texas.”

“I don’t know where he got that from,” Arch Manning said in his first meeting with reporters since SEC media days in mid-July. “He texted me to apologize about that. I’m really just taking it day by day right now.”

Arch Manning has been careful while talking about his future as he leads the No. 1 Longhorns as the full-time starter after playing behind Quinn Ewers the past two seasons. Manning enters this season as the early favorite for the Heisman Trophy, has endorsement deals worth millions and comes from the most famous quarterbacking family in football. Grandfather Archie played in the NFL and uncles Peyton and Eli combined for four Super Bowl victories.

Add that together and Arch Manning is shouldering the biggest spotlight of any player in the country. Texas opens the season Aug. 30 at No. 3 Ohio State after losing to the Buckeyes in the national playoff semifinals last season.

Manning is also very close to his grandfather, despite any confusion about whether he’s destined for one or two seasons as the Texas starter before heading to the NFL. Manning noted Tuesday how Archie is always giving him advice on how to avoid taking big hits to prolong his career.

“Those hits add up,” Arch Manning said. “My grandfather, he’s hobbling around these days. He ends every call with ‘get down or get out of bounds.’”

Arch Manning appeared in 10 games for Texas in 2024, throwing for 939 yards and 9 touchdowns in 90 attempts, and started two games when Quinn Ewers was dealing with an oblique strain.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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