Tennessee’s football team received a visit from Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Peyton Manning ahead of its season opener in Atlanta against Syracuse. Manning, who played quarterback for the University of Tennessee in the late 1990s, made several appearances on the university’s campus during game week.
According to a post from the official Tennessee football X account, Manning stopped by practice to speak with head coach Josh Heupel. He was also pictured on the field with his former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer and former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.
The social media post stated, “Legends on Rocky Top. (…) Thanks for taking the time to stop by!#GBO pic.twitter.com/rDokiRFVSD (…) — Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 27, 2025.”
During his visit, Manning spent time with Mike Keith, newly named “Voice of the Vols.” Keith posted about his show on social media: “Our first guest is a Hall of Fame quarterback turned professor-media mogul-beloved national treasure who played for Tennessee,” Keith posted on his X.
Manning was also present at an event honoring Danny Burnley at Neyland Stadium. Burnley, who recently retired as assistant ticket manager and had assisted many players’ families over his career, had a stadium gate named after him. Burnley’s commemorative plaque acknowledges his service since becoming a student manager in 1974 and notes his key role helping Volunteer families attend games.
The plaque reads: “Danny Burnley’s journey with Tennessee Athletics is lifelong. Though he officially started on campus as a student in the fall of 1974, not long after setting foot on campus, Burnley summoned his passion for service as he began volunteering as a student manager for the Tennessee football team. By 1980, he was the head manager for Coach Johnny Majors. By 1983, Burnley traded football practice for ticket stock as he joined the Tennessee ticket office, serving as the assistant ticket director to Gus Manning. In his early years of ticketing, Burnley continued to exhibit his volunteer spirit, doing a little bit of everything. It was Manning that taught Burnley his most important business lesson: ‘You always need to have four tickets in your back pocket, ready for emergency!’ In 1985, Burnley was promoted to manage all ticket operations at the player family gate. Handling himself with patience, humor and class, Burnley helped thousands of Tennessee football famliies make their way into Neyland Stadium. He remained a fixture for all Volunteer families, until his retirement in 2024. There is no denying Danny Burnley never missed a home game. The University of Tennessee, Peyton and Ashley Manning and Tennessee Athletics recognize and honor the career and accomplishments of Danny Burnley.”
Manning will appear as Keith’s first guest on “The Mike Keith Show,” scheduled to air at 3 p.m. on the official YouTube channel for Tennessee Athletics.
