In an NFL career that spanned 15 seasons from 1971 through 1984, Archie Manning was the personification of the "great quarterback/bad team" meme. He was the second overall player taken in the 1971 NFL draft out of Mississippi -- Jim Plunkett was the first player taken that year -- and Manning never found the professional redemption Plunkett discovered later in his career. The worst year may have been 1980, when Manning somehow threw for over 3,700 yards and 23 touchdowns to just 20 interceptions on a 1-15 New Orleans Saints team that was one of the worst of all time.
Of course, Manning got his NFL glory through his sons -- Peyton and Eli have a few notable accomplishments among them -- and while the elder Manning has a great deal of pride in their feats, his own football view is most often taken by the college game. He's currently on the board of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, which led to his involvement in the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.