Don’t let anyone tell you that Name, Image, and Likeness is the devil sent down to destroy college football. After selling his first-ever trading card, Arch Manning’s NIL earnings are already benefiting local charities.
The Texas Longhorns QB announced Tuesday that 100% of the proceeds of his signed one-of-one Panini trading card will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Central Texas.
Arch Manning NIL Earnings Boost Local Charities After Panini Card Sale
“When I first partnered with Panini to auction off my trading card, I wanted the money to go to a good cause,” Manning told an assembled crowd at an event to announce the donation. The Texas QB smiled for the cameras, autographed Longhorns helmets, and interacted with kids from the charity.
“Helping children live healthy and fulfilling lives was important to me and my family,” Manning continued, possessing the air of man beyond his early years. “With that being said, I’m donating 100% of the proceeds from my trading card to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Central Texas.”
One hundred percent of the proceeds equates to a $102,500 donation from Manning, a true freshman quarterback at the University of Texas who is yet to see the field in Austin and is unlikely to this season as the Quinn Ewers-led Longhorns still have their clear eyes, full hearts, on a date with the College Football Playoff despite a loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry last weekend.
Despite his on-field status, Manning’s NIL value places him right near the top of college football’s financial race.
According to the On3.com NIL Rankings, the Texas QB has a NIL valuation of $2.8 million. Ahead of the season he sat atop those rankings, but the seismic shift in college football set in motion by Deion and Shedeur Sanders sees the Colorado quarterback lead the way.
Interestingly, those rankings and valuations are an estimate of the players earning power and potential rather than the sum value of their actual deals and money made to date.
Manning’s NIL portfolio began with the Panini trading card deal that facilitated the generous donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities this week. His first NIL contract as the Texas QB was a multi-year deal with the trading card giant, and the first card of that deal — a Throwback Black Prizm 1of1 — raised $102,500 at auction.
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The sale in late July smashed the previous Panini America record for a trading card. A one-of-one Luka Doncic national treasure card signed by the high-profile basketball player held the record previously, fetching $100,000 at auction.
Manning is the latest in line of a family quarterback factory that includes former Tennessee and Ole Miss legends Peyton and Eli Manning. He’s the son of Cooper Manning, the oldest son of Archie Manning, who was a first-team All-American at Ole Miss.
While his football achievements are yet to meet those of his famous family members, Arch already holds the upper hand in the trading card stakes. According to On3.com, the record price paid for a Peyton Manning trading card is $71,988.88.
Manning’s NIL earnings have allowed him to continue in a family tradition that goes beyond football.
His generous donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities has him follow in the footsteps of Peyton and Eli who have established multiple foundations and donated to countless charities during the course of their football careers.
Helping support disadvantaged children has been at the forefront of their endeavors, with “The Eli Manning Children’s Clinics” and the “PeyBack Foundation” giving time and money to help the younger generation lead as healthy and fulfilling lives as possible. Now, the younger generation of the Manning family is making moves to provide support for the next generation to come.