An NIL Study On Arch Manning

July 18, 2025

Welcome to Gridiron Wallet — where NFL players don’t just chase rings, they chase bags. From million-dollar grills to side hustles that slap, we’re decoding how football’s finest make it, spend it, and sometimes… fumble it. 🏈🔥

The latest edition of our newsletter covers Arch Manning:

  • Student Athlete Who is Not After Money

  • Enter the Big Brands

  • Giving It Back to the Community

💸Brand Building

Student Athlete Who is Not After Money: Arch’s Unique NIL Approach 

Arch Manning is truly following in the footsteps of his Manning family forebears. Not only is he expected to play quarterback in the NFL, but he's also likely to go in as the top QB recruit in his draft class. His grandfather, Archie Manning, was the No. 2 pick in the 1971 Draft. Peyton Manning was No. 1 in 1998, and his brother Eli went No. 1 in 2004. Arch is likely to be No. 1 in 2026.

Yet, despite that pedigree, we’ve seen very little of Arch in his two years at Texas, and that is by design. He and his family haven’t been looking for the limelight. It is the best possible route to becoming the fourth top-2 pick in the family.

Even his recruitment process into college was kept very tame. Arch didn’t do any interviews and accepted no early formal scholarship offers. He even maintained a private Instagram account, viewable only to friends and potential coaches, and made it public only after announcing his commitment to Texas in June 2022.

Arch has taken the same approach with his business dealings, keeping them very limited and under wraps. He only started announcing deals recently, once it became clear that he would be the starting QB in 2025. 

In January, while announcing a brand deal with Red Bull, he shared his view that it’s not all about the money, and he wants to make smart partnerships.

“It’s all about the people and the relationships rather than just having a bunch of deals. It’s really just dialing in on who you want to be partnered with and who you want to represent you,” Arch said.

“I’m focused on playing football, that’s what I love to do. I’m not here to do NIL deals… Those are extracurricular. But I do like to drink a Red Bull now and then, that’s for sure,” he added.

In yet another example of the young Manning’s patience, vision, and humility, he sat behind an inferior QB in Quinn Ewers for two years. Arch could have gone to plenty of other schools and likely started as a freshman, but he chose to take his development deliberately, like everything else in his life.

It’s no surprise that, even with his humble and quiet demeanor, Arch now has the No. 1 NIL valuation by On3, rising from $6.6 million in January to $6.8 million in July.

He has been extremely selective with the deals he has signed. First, it was Panini America, the top sports trading card company in the country. Then, he carefully negotiated a deal for his inclusion in EA Sports’ College Football video game. And of course, there’s the Red Bull partnership. All industry-leading brands.

It’s quite interesting how much value still rides on Manning's family legacy. Despite his limited exposure and actual NIL deals, his $6.8 million valuation is even higher than Shedeur Sanders’ record $6.5 million from last season. And let’s not forget, Shedeur had a massive social media presence, which boosted his profile.

That’s what happens when you’re the favorite to go No. 1 in next year’s NFL draft before you’ve even thrown 100 college passes.

✍️Paper Play

Enter the Big Brands: Arch’s NIL Deals

Similar to what Shedeur Sanders did in college, Arch Manning is starting to build an impressive portfolio of brands. From video games to restaurants, the partnerships have helped him become the highest-valued NIL player in CFB. Here are the deals the Longhorns' QB has signed so far: 

Panini America

Arch first signed with Panini America in July 2023. They’re a memorabilia and collectible company that specializes in trading cards, stickers, and other knick-knacks. The deal was a multi-year partnership that ended at the close of last season. 

But Panini made sure to re-sign Arch in April of 2025. This time, they’ll be selling exclusively autographed gear, including helmets, jerseys, and more from the young prodigy.

EA Sports

Almost one year after signing his first NIL deal, Arch inked another with EA Sports for their video game, College Football 25. He appeared in it alongside thousands of other college football players who allowed their name, image, and likeness to be used. The game became a fan favorite as EA revived a dormant series that was once wildly popular.

Arch is also featured in the latest release, College Football 26. This time, though, he has improved attributes and is the QB1 for the Texas Longhorns.

Red Bull

How could anyone turn down the opportunity to get wings when offered? 

Red Bull signed Arch in January 2025. Alongside the announcement was a looped video of the QB taking a sip of the drink and hitting the bullseye of a target 15 yards away. It’s a pretty neat promo from the global leader in energy drinks.

Uber

The popular ride service, Uber, signed Arch in March 2025. To announce the partnership, he, his dad Cooper, and Archie Manning created a funny promotional video. It showed him being driven to class by a self-driving car, with some hilarious banter from the Manning family.

Vuori

Another popular brand, but this time in the clothing space. Vuori signed Arch in April 2025. The company specializes in athletic and performance apparel, rivaling brands like Lululemon.

Raising Cane’s

Who doesn’t love some fried chicken? Arch’s most recent NIL partnership is with a popular fast food restaurant, Raising Cane’s. He starred in a commercial with LSU star Garrett Nussmeier, as well as Cooper and Archie Manning, to announce the deal. 

All in all, it’s a lot for Arch to keep track of, and the portfolio is growing. It’s why he’s the highest valued NIL player in CFB today.

💡 Gridiron Wallet Trivia

Did you know?
🌿 The Manning family has quietly built a football empire worth over $600 million. Between NFL contracts, endorsements, and media deals—like Peyton’s Omaha Productions, which reportedly signed a $300 million deal with ESPN—the Mannings have turned their on-field success into a financial dynasty off the field.

🏈✨Caring By Sharing

Giving It Back to the Community

Giving back has always been part of the Manning DNA. From the moment they stepped into the spotlight, the family made it clear that their platform wasn’t just about football — it was about people.

It all started with Peyton Manning, who founded the PeyBack Foundation in 1999, two years into his NFL career. Since then, he has personally donated over $40 million to good causes, including funding the full-service Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Then, when Hurricane Katrina struck, Peyton and Eli personally arranged a 30,000-pound supply flight to Louisiana. 

The message from the Mannings is clear and consistent: When your name carries weight, you use it to lift others. And clearly, Arch Manning got the memo.

Still only 21, the Texas Longhorns quarterback is following the example set before him. When deadly floods claimed over 100 lives across Central Texas, including more than two dozen children, Arch didn’t stay quiet. 

He went public with a heartfelt message on Instagram and called on fans to donate, spotlighting four boots-on-the-ground organizations: The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, Texas Search and Rescue, Mercy Chefs, and the United Cajun Navy.

There is more. Instead of cashing in on his Panini America freshman partnership, he auctioned off a card that sold for $102,500 and donated all the proceeds to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas.

His reason for this benevolent act was simple. “Helping children live healthy and fulfilling lives was important to me and my family,” the Longhorns star said at the time.

While he’s yet to play a full season as a starter for the Longhorns, Arch’s off-field impact is undeniable. He’s proving you don’t need NFL status to make a difference, just intention and follow-through.

📆 NFL Money Stat of the 1980s

By the mid-1980s, a 30-second ad during Monday Night Football cost over $120,000—a massive jump from the $30,000 it cost in the late ’70s. Advertisers were willing to pay premium prices to reach football’s growing national audience.